Now retired after 32 years of pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church, David is visiting a wide variety of churches, a valuable experience for immersing himself in the styles and practices of the modern Church. In retirement he currently pursues his passion for ministry, and for youth ministry in particular, through his expanded work with Ministry Architects. His lifetime work in youth ministry includes work in the local church as youth worker and pastor, at the regional level, and through his leadership in the camping ministries of Mississippi Methodism. David graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, MS, with a B.A. in Sociology, then from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology with a Master of Divinity degree. David is married to Laura, and they have three grown children—Ben, Kathryn, and Mary Evelyn. He loves the outdoors, traveling with his family, playing golf when he shoots under 95, his awesome back porch, and a good cup of coffee.
So, now you have cleaned up the mess from last year, and you’ve said ‘thank you’ to your great team of volunteers who served faithfully through the year. Now it’s time to turn your focus to the new program year that will kick off in the fall. At Ministry Architects we recommend that you finish…
Well, wasn’t that Easter Egg Hunt that your youth sponsored for the children’s ministry just a blast! I hope you had plenty of “Extra Eggs for Empty Baskets.” I heard of a neighborhood that had an Easter Egg Hunt that was a lot of fun, too – kids running everywhere, prize-filled plastic eggs hidden in…
Introduction True story. It was the day before Easter, March 30, 1961, and Peter’s 5th birthday had been the day before. It seemed he was on a roll, even though he was in a new community that year. His dad was a minister, and the family had moved to town the summer before. It was…
What’s the best way to ensure people show up?Well, first and foremost, they have to know what’s going on. Of course that’s the answer. But you and I both know that in this information age, when people spend more time scrolling screens rather than reading what’s written, getting your words out and getting your words…
Introduction It’s a centuries old question – what in the world do we do with children in worship? And the Church is, and always has been, all over the map when it comes to involving children in its worship. I know that in some churches children are always present. In other churches children have their…
Introduction “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Or so I’ve heard. That is a truism that is all too true in many a church, where “squeaky wheels” set an agenda of anxiety, reactivity, and whim, while the church as a whole flounders to find its course. What today’s church must have are guiding principles to…
Introduction I was going through a box of some old things that I inherited from my dad not too long ago, and I came across a real treasure. There amongst things that he had obviously cherished was his grandfather’s pocket watch. My great-grandfather had been a Methodist preacher of days gone by, retiring from ministry…
Introduction An inquisitive visiting parent once asked me a good question during the holiday season, “I can tell that you have a strong children’s ministry just by the number of children involved, but what can you tell me about the depth of your ministry? How do you evaluate what is happening with children from the…