Our Pastor

Dave Richardson

Dave was born and raised in Marietta, Ohio and Pam was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Her father’s job necessitated numerous moves and she ended up going to high school in Pound Ridge, New York (a suburb of NYC). Pam and Dave met at Marietta College in the choir in 1969. Dave graduated from Marietta College with a liberal arts degree, with a major in music and a minor in speech/drama in 1971. Pam graduated from Marietta College with a degree in business and accounting in 1973. Dave’s plan was to go to seminary right after college (and he had been accepted at Wheaton College, School of Divinity) but the Vietnam War led him to a different decision. Instead of using seminary as a means of avoiding the draft, after graduating from college, Dave enlisted in the Air Force, married Pam and they ended up being stationed in Turkey where he and Pam lived for three and a half years. Following their return home, Dave no longer felt led to go to seminary and instead joined his father’s printing business intent on pursuing the American Dream. 

The plan worked perfectly until the age of fifty when one evening after singing at a local street festival with a gospel quartet, Dave received a dramatic and undeniable call to pastoral ministry. Because of his real estate investments and community responsibilities Dave did not believe that anything would come of the call since he felt pastors needed formal education and he could not leave everything and go to seminary for several years. The Lord already knew this and provided a way for the education to be acquired while the local obligations were met. Dave graduated from Eastern Theological Seminary in May of 2006 with a Master of Divinity degree and from Palmer Theological Seminary in May of 2010 with a Doctor of Ministry degree (Marriage and Family Counseling). 

Dave has been in pastoral ministry since 2002 and prior to that directed choirs, taught bible classes and provided pulpit supply over the previous thirty years. Pam was a stay-at-home mom who volunteered extensively in church, school and community activities as she felt led of the Spirit. In past churches, Pam has led women’s bible studies and been involved in the music programs. Outside of church she has been a discussion leader at Bible Study Fellowship for fifteen years and been involved in various community activities (including community theater). 

Dave has served churches in New Matamoras Ohio, Oak Hill WV, Stilwell KS and Rushville IN before being called home to serve The Journey on Park Avenue. 

Both Dave and Pam have a heart for others and for doing the Lord’s work. One of their primary modes of relaxation is riding their Harley together!