I grew up in a camping family that loved adventuring in the great outdoors. Mom and Dad lived confidently, tackling new challenges, believing in us to do the same. My desire to lead and inspire others first emerged as chapter president of my fraternity, Sigma Nu. I later consulted other chapters nationwide in recruiting and management. That year, 1986, I desperately longed for God and found saving faith with Jesus Christ. Mature Christian men who passionately pursued Jesus began discipling me. They modeled a consistent walk with God while reaching out to others.
The next three years as a District Executive of the Boy Scouts of America in San Diego County, I empowered over 400 families to launch 21 scout troops and cub packs for their children. I also recruited and trained for future leadership needs of our region including a summer aquatics camp. God tugged again at my heart and I left the Boy Scouts for the Horizon School of Evangelism. The experience culminated in a month long backpacking and preaching tour of Mexico, impassioning my heart for ministry. I joined Campus Crusade for Christ, as Affiliate Staff, while paying bills and ministering selling men’s clothing at Nordstrom.
Drawn to Rev. John Maxwell of Skyline Church, renowned church leadership author and speaker, I found a heart match with that ministry and was asked to intern. Refocusing my energy, for three years I planned and implemented overall church assimilation, visitation and street evangelism and led the 20/30 Vision Young Professionals Class. In this class of 400, I led six missions groups, coached fifteen ongoing cells, preached periodically and gave core leadership to a church planting team in Split, Croatia. That church remains 150 strong. I also joined Kingdom Building Ministries as a short-term missions leader and later became an itinerant speaker. This busy, but incredibly exciting time of my life unfolded God’s vision of pastoral ministry for me. Answering the call, I pursued my Masters Degree in Pastoral Studies from the Haggard School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University.
Returning from a missions trip to Peru in 1995, I prayed "So Lord, what would you have me do now?" Upon my return, a good friend at Colorado Christian University invited me instead to teach and a year later to build the International Medical Relief Organization Project C.U.R.E.—and we did from 17 to 7000 volunteers annually. Mobilizing volunteers and working with people on both a heart and skill level and meeting not only our organization's goals but also developing my volunteers personally helped prepare me for the delicate balance of pastoral ministry. My preaching in the international settings was also exhilarating and wet my appetite for more.
When I met my wife, Stanton, I realized that God had completed me and my time had arrived to fulfill my calling in pastoral ministry. We both believed the local church was God’s most powerful vehicle for kingdom development and the best expression of our mutual gifting. Through a KBM contact and an old friend, I began co-pastoring in Boulder, CO, loving it. My vision and hope for First Baptist Church ministry is to build a vibrant community who loves God and our neighbors abundantly.
My unique contribution as a minister of the Gospel is my own personal walk with God. I've ministered zealously all over the world and in many different contexts and I've also waited perplexed and impatiently on God, wondering when He was going to "use" me. This familiar journey of us all has opened my eyes with new clarity to the needs of the body for encouragement, direction and leadership in our everyday lives and relationships, whether with family, workmates, neighbors or the needy halfway around the world. I am committed to leading the saints towards a profound relationship with God in their daily lives. Through this intimacy, we are able to experience the power of God and be of eternal value in our own worlds.
Pastor David and Stanton live in Puyallup with their 2 young daughters.
