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For the Rev. Dr. David N. Young, going into ministry was not a conscious decision as much as it was a “continually evolving sense that this was where God was leading me to be.” A native of Boone, North Carolina, Pastor Dave graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College with a B.A. in Psychology. His chaplain in college encouraged him to consider becoming a pastor, and as he continued through seminary and internship he felt increasingly drawn to be in ministry with people and to share the Gospel. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1997. Pastor Dave continued his education at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago receiving a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching in 2008. He served his previous congregation, Gloria Dei in Cincinnati, Ohio, from August 1997 to June 2010. He is married to the Rev. Heidi David-Young, Bethel’s other pastor, and they have two sons, Noah and Micah, and one daughter, Leah. When asked what message from the Gospel people struggled with the most, Pastor Dave said, “I think people don't believe it can be true. That God loves us that much. I'm not just talking about whether or not you believe the Bible is true, but about believing in the generosity of God's grace, the depth of God's compassion, the breadth of God's mercy. “I don't think I always get it either,” he adds. “I think it's unfathomable. But in this singular person of Jesus, God in the flesh, Emmanuel, we see a bigger picture of how God designed and desires this world to be: a world that is centered in peace, in loving sacrifice, in inclusivity, in calling us to task, and in an amazing promise of renewal.”
The Rev. Heidi David-Young grew up in the city of Lexington, Kentucky, and received her bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She received her Ministry of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, in Atlanta, planning on going into diaconal ministry rather than becoming a pastor. While at seminary she met another seminarian, her future husband and Bethel’s other pastor, Pastor Dave Young. They have three children, Noah, Micah and Leah.
Bethel’s Director of Music Ministries, George Donovan, Jr., got an early start, but his first keyboard had only eight keys. “My first memories of music were playing on a Fisher-Price piano that my parents got me when I was really young." George moved up to 88 keys at the age of five, when he started taking piano lessons. He may be new to Bethel, but George, a Sherando high school alumnus, is no stranger to Winchester. He attended Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, studying church music. He has also served churches in Virginia, Florida, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, leading music in a variety of denominations. Most recently, George worked for the Sunrise Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg, Virginia as organist and director of their worship ensemble. He sees his years of experience in varied church settings and worship music styles as a gift of God. “More than any particular genre that influenced me, it was more the Holy Spirit leading me. I can’t pinpoint one genre or style that has influenced me most. As I was feeling led in different directions, a bit of each of those experiences became a part of me.” George is enthusiastic about working with Bethel for many reasons. “If I had to name styles, Bethel does them all. There's a creative, open spirit here.” Currently George is finishing a bachelor's degree at Shenandoah University, majoring in church music with a concentration in organ music. He adds, “My heart has always been in church music. It's as much of a worship experience for me as the congregation experiences it. I feel like that is part of my act of worship.”
Anna Havron is a compulsive writer, reader and doodler. "I was once told that the ideal job is the one where you get to indulge your vices; that is, where you do the things you do, when you're supposed to be doing something else," she says. "I'm delighted to be able to work with words and images here."
A few months ago Tricia Dietz decided to make a job change, and began praying about what to do next. Then she saw the ad for a bookkeeper at Bethel. “It was really weird timing. It probably was a God wink – it gave me that push to do something different. I had faith that something would happen, and it’s all worked out very well.”
Terri Hollingsworth partly credits Bethel’s Disciple Bible Study’s emphasis on using one’s spiritual gifts for inspiring her to apply for the parish administrator’s position. “I fell into the categories of administration, helping and serving.”
Patty White came to this area from Grafton, West Virginia, about eight years ago. “My son was here, and I thought this was a good place to start my own cleaning business.” Now both of her sons are living in the area, and she has a granddaughter as well. The choice also worked out for Patty's career: her business is thriving. "I like it," she says of working for herself. "I've got a lot of flexibility, but you've got to stay responsible to people, and you can't miss. There are some people I've had four or five years, and I haven't missed." Unsurprisingly, with that work ethic, Patty has plenty of loyal clients, one of whom suggested she apply to Bethel. “She asked if I would be interested in it, and I said, oh my Lord, yes. I've met some really cool people there. When I'm out there, I have a very good feeling.” It takes a lot of great people to make a great church.
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