About David

My Spiritual Roots

I was blessed to have Christian parents. My dad Jim pastored small Churches throughout his career. My parents met at Minnesota Bible College. They married shortly afterwards, making their first home together in San Jose, the place of my birth, where my dad was then attending San Jose Bible College. After my grandmother’s death (1/18/1958) my father once again transferred, this time to Pacific Bible Seminary so we could live in my mother’s childhood home in San Bernardino. At PBS my father would study with my future father-in-love Harvey Beard. My wife Marty remembers me at age four on the day of my dad’s graduation wandering around the campus in the courtyard after the service and that my mother was pregnant. My grandma Della was also there that day. 

My dad began his preaching ministry at a Church in Rockwell City, IA, then pastored a Church in Bucklin City, KS, and eventually made his way with the family to Phoenix, AZ where he was preaching at a new Church. I was baptized at age eight in Phoenix. I grew up hearing my dad preach from the Bible on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights and teach the Bible in our Wednesday night prayer meetings.

I would go with him when he made home visits on members of our Church, out on their farms. A special memory was driving a flatbed truck when I was seven while my dad and Merle Darst loaded up bales of hay. My mother had me singing solos in Church with her accompanying me on the piano from the time I was seven. 

My grandfather also pastored small congregations and was the first to encourage me to become a Minister of the Gospel. Grandpa would tell me about his father, my great grandfather, who died when grandpa was only eleven in 1915. He was a well-respected medical doctor in Rialto, CA who served as an Elder of the Church that was located next door to his home where he had his practice. Grandpa said his father cared deeply about his patients. I have a picture of him driving a horse and buggy which he used to make house calls. 

I’m thankful for this rich spiritual heritage. These early years formed me, revealing three primary passions: the Bible, Christian music and ministry.