About our Pastor:
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, in a suburb called Penn Hills, in
the warm shadow of 2 older sisters (Karen & Beth) and 1 older
brother (Tom), whom I idolized. Tom was the neighborhood comic,
active in high school and community theatre, and he seemed to have
this uncanny ability of commanding people's attention through laughter.
I was hooked, and wanted to be just like him! I graduated in a class
of 1200 from Penn Hills High School, where I was actively involved
in music, theatre, Young Life, church, neighborhood football, and
summer softball league play. I had my share of weird and wooley
childhood moments--"borrowing" cow corn from a neighboring
farm to pelt house awnings and passing cars in the early evenings
of fall before Halloween; accidently setting a nearby farm field
on fire when my friend and I were sixth graders experimenting with
cigarettes; dressing up like Shirley Temple to sing and dance "On
The Good Ship Lollipop" for a junior high variety show; and
one of my "proudest" moments...pretending to go to the
bathroom during church services one Sunday, only to enter the choir
rehearsal room in order to "borrow" $5 from one of the
ladies' purses left there, so I could go to the movies later on.
I share all of this to let you know that I was a pretty normal kid
growing up--mischievous sometimes, rebellious other times, and downright
cute most of the time (a little too thick? ok, I'll try to be careful
in the future!).
I attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania after spending all
of about 15 seconds choosing a career path based solely on..."I
was pretty good with math!"...and began as a business major.
God had a different plan for me though as I quickly discovered.
Through an amazing set of circumstances, and the feedback of some
adult mentors in my life, I was convinced that God was challenging
me to enter ministry (ask me about the story sometime--I love to
tell it, especially the part about my weeping mother, and I thought
to myself--"what did I do now?"). That's when I transitioned
into the English Department to get a B.A. I graduated in 1981, and
promptly married my high school sweetheart, Marcy (although she
didn't know it at the time we went to high school together!). I
volunteered with Young Life High School Outreach Ministries for
2 years while working in the graphics business. Marcy and I then
moved to the Boston area while I attended Gordon-Conwell Theological
Seminary to get a Masters of Divinity degree (which only proves
that seminaries give even troublemakers like me a chance!).
I then accepted a call to my first pastorate at St. Paul's United
Church of Christ in downtown Erie, where I served a wonderful congregation
for 12 years--in many ways it was like an on-the-job training program--and
their patience was forever forgiving my occasional ineptitude! Along
the way my wife and I had 3 amazing children (Rachel, now 23, pursuing
a career on Broadway in NYC; Rebecca, now 19, studying music at
SUNY-Fredonia; and Tim, now almost 17, a junior at Ft. LeBoeuf,
with dreams of becoming a sports agent). I then took an interim
associate pastoral position at 1st Presbyterian Church of the Covenant,
as theirs was retiring. What a gift from God this was to serve with
such a visionary, faith-driven, and warm congregation and staff.
It was during this time that I went through the process of asking
God's direction and then discerning a call into the PC(USA). I had
been ordained by the UCC in 1987 in Pittsburgh, but after 16 years
of ministry experience, I felt called to transfer my standing to
the Presbyterian Church. The Lake Erie Presbytery of the PC(USA)
was generously helpful in aiding my transition, and welcoming me
with open arms!
This was the wild and wacky journey that brought me to Belle Valley
Presbyterian Church 6 years ago...a congregation of such talented,
warm, faithful and passionate disciples of Jesus Christ! I believe
God is doing some wondrous things in us, among us, and through us
as we move out of our comfort zones into the darkness, the woundedness,
and the brokenness of hurting people all around us--not because
we have all the answers, or "have it all together," but
because we are also a broken, wounded people who've found healing
love in a dynamically forgiving and transforming Rescuer...Jesus
Christ! In my "spare time" (what's that?) I love music,
playing guitar, performing in community theatre, watching the "Steelers,"
the "Cavs," the "Fighting Irish," and March
Madness with my family and friends, reading, video gaming, and becoming
a Seinfeld-a-phobe! God has developed a renewed zeal for mission
in my heart through the PC(USA)--particularly in Jamaica and Ghana.
God is great and gracious, and what a priviledge I've had to be
in His service (with all my warts and failings) for 21 years. And
yet I feel like I've only just started!!
Yours In Christ, Dave
Contact Pastor Dave Edmunds at 864-8171; or email reved87@aol.com
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