I knew Dave from playing against him in high school sports, and you could tell that he was something special...the way he carried himself, his demeanor. A few years later, I became close friends with him as he became our Pastor at Fish Lake Bible at a very young age. We had a lot in common as we both loved sports and our kids were close in age with theirs. It was very easy for me to connect with him. Tina and I got involved with him and Cheri, and Simon and Linda Kemp as Word of Life leaders in Dave's youth ministry at our church. Dave had a special impact in my christian life. He always encouraged you, and always tried to find the positive in something. I'll never forget all the basketball and softball games we played together in our church league. He was such a competitor but always a positive influence to everyone. Years later, as he was a Pastor at another church and later with Word of Life, he continued to stay in touch even though he was many miles away and always on the go. His memories and the time he gave me will always be special to me. While watching Chip, Chad, Catherine, Candice and Christin up on stage talking about how much their Father meant to them, the example he was and them all singing, brought tears to my eyes knowing how proud both Dave and Cheri would be.

As I’ve reflected on who Dave was to me the word celebrator is what comes into my mind. Dave knew how to celebrate people. Make them feel like they were rock stars. Dave and Deb were my first ministry partners as a CCIer to Portugal. I met them 1 day before making the ask and God just kept pressing into me that I needed them in my life and on my team. He truly had one of the best gifts for me I’ve ever received from the Lord within this couple. Edification and community with the saints is what I felt from the get-go. A slice of heaven. Dave was never to busy to give you that knowing smile and hug, he was, in many ways a surrogate uncle to me. He taught me a lot about how I believe God looks at me with kindness in spite of weakness, with excitement despite youth or shortcomings, and celebration in even the smallest victories. I can still hear him saying “ that’s my girl” and now when I pray to God I imagine Him up there with Him saying that same phrase.

Deb, my heart goes out to you and your family in losing Dave. May your beautiful memories and ceetainty that Dave is home with his Lord console you.

When I was in college and my brother Mark was finishing up his senior year at Mendon, we lived in the lower level of a home there while Dave and Cherri and the kids lived upstairs. We shared some evening meals with their family and really enjoyed getting to know them. Dave was a great example for us. And Cherri was super gracious. Dave led RBM Ministries at that point. I remember being very impressed that he had pastored a church when he was not much older than I was at that time. I became engaged to Tammy while living with them and I thought about how cool it would be to have a family like them. A simple memory is when a wide eyed Chad told me that his dad went to a ballgame and a player had a ball go "right through his hand." He pointed to his hand with amazement. I enjoyed shooting baskets with the boys. There may have been discussions when Catherine got more peaches than someone else -- we got to share life with them and enjoyed it. Candi was the flower girl in our wedding. Years later, I had lunch with Dave when I was starting as a basketball coach and he was coaching at Martin. I valued his advice on multiple levels. Dave was a Godly man who related to us really well. Proverbs 10:7 says, "The memory of the righteous is a blessing." I know that he will be missed greatly, as Cherri has been. My prayer is that you all can go back to those memories of a Godly Dad, Uncle, Grandpa, Son, and Friend and that those memories will be a tremendous blessing to you. My memories of Dave are an inspiration to me.

He allowed the Lord to work through his life and that has made God's purpose for this world more evident. Welcome home, Dave.

I appreciate the love and care Dave showed to Deb and her boys, our neighbor friends from back in the early 80's. He provided the spiritual leadership they needed and desired as young Christians, along with training his other five children. What a clear witness of the grace of God in a yielded life. God has obviously blessed Dave's ministry to hundreds of people around the world. He has heard his Savior say, "Well done, good and faithful servant".....what his purpose was for living. "Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright, for the future of that man is peace." Psalm 37:37 Blessings, Swartz' Family

Dave was a student of my father's at WOLBI in the 70s. I always looked up to Dave in his roles at the Ranch camp I attended as a child. Later in life, after I had married and was going through a difficult divorce, Dave came to visit my parents and he took me to dinner when he found out what I was going through and gave me advice and encouragement and was a blessing to me, and I know to my parents as well. His love for God and concern for people was evident and manifested in his life. I am thankful for the interactions I had with him and for the influence he had on me spiritually.

I have known Dave since he was a teenager. He was active in the new Word of Life Club that his parents were leaders of at Factoryville Bible. he with his parents were out witnessing and Dave would do follow-up on new converts. He was the starting Quarterback of the football team for Colon High School. As he graduated, I saw the same spirit continue in his life as Pastor, missionary and then as a "Pastor" to missionaries all over the world. He had a gentle spirit to those that were hurting. He was a cheerleader to those missionaries seeking God's will in their ministry. He was firm with those that were not walking a Biblical path. He loved people and more than once he talked about his love for his family, his wife, his children, grandchildren and for his parents.