Dave Wright grew up in the Los Angeles area and longed for a more rural setting. He met Pam at a Christian rally in Northern California. They never decided who was the fool, but they married two years later. They have been married over 40 years and have two grown daughters.

Dave secretly received Christ as a boy at camp and, having no other Christian influence, promptly forgot about it. At 18 he met a Christian who had something he wanted. Soon Dave was reading the Bible and accepted Christ. Dave and Pam both went to college, where Dave was called into the ministry. Dave continued his education at a seminary. In his last year, the Board of Ministry didn’t think he was outgoing enough to succeed as a pastor and suggested trying other work. Dave was torn between respect for his denominational leaders and respect for God’s calling. Dave and Pam worked hard to be the best supporters of their pastors that they could be, and Dave found other work.

Through Pam’s involvement in Stonecroft’s Christian Women’s Club, Dave and Pam became friends with the Elliotts, retired Village Missionaries. As Ben spoke of Village Missions, Dave wondered if this was the answer to God’s call but never contacted Village Missions. In 2013 his pastor suffered burnout and left the church. As a lay leader, Dave took over until a church meeting with the superintendent could be arranged. At the meeting, the church didn’t close, and Dave was unanimously made pastor by the faithful remnant. He was both thrilled and scared to death. It is only by getting his eyes off his inadequacies and onto the Lord who called him that he has been able to grow into the role as pastor.

He continued to work full-time in accounting, but he grew tired of the commute and the way the job interfered with his ability to minister to the church body. As he began the process of retiring and looking for work closer to home, Village Missions came to his heart and mind again. Then he heard that Village Missions was looking for an accountant, and he was moved to apply.

Dave greatly enjoys the work and the people at Village Missions and is very thankful for an opportunity to serve this great ministry that provides pastors for churches in the forgotten corners of America and Canada. He is also thankful for his very short commute and that he has the flexibility to take a break from work to visit with someone or to attend a church meeting. All of this makes his bi-vocational ministry much more satisfying.

Dave enjoys wood carving, wood turning and computer games. Pam enjoys crafts and making junk journals.

Dave and Pam are looking forward to serving Village Missions for a number of years.