David Dwight – Senior Pastor
Senior Pastor
hope@hopecentral.com
804.708.5330 ext. 110
Primary Responsibilities-
Teaching; Vision, Leading Staff
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Fun Facts…
Movies I Enjoy-
I like movies, but I wouldn’t say I’m a movie junkie. Recently with some friends someone asked “Top 3 movies!?” Mine were, “Finding Neverland,” ”The Mission,” and “Dan in Real Life.” I also like good action or heist movies like the Bourne flicks. Sometimes if I’m in the right mood really stupid humor movies are fun – like “Airplane,” that kind of sophisticated film making.
Favorite Books-
For fun, Peter Mayle and Clive Cussler books; For growth; The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard; I also like Henri Nouwen very much. I try to never be too far away from a C.S. Lewis book. A little while ago, I read “The Unlikely Disciple” by Kevin Roose – that was fun.
Favorite TV Show-
ESPN. I watch a lot of sports. Probably too much.
Favorite Quote-
“Esse Quam Videri” – State Seal of NC – latin meaning “To be rather than to seem.”
Music-
Third Day, Jason Mraz, Classic Rock
For Fun I Enjoy-
Family time, the outdoors, good conversation, fishing, golf, tennis, prayer with a friend.
Historical Figure I Admire-
Hard to top George Washington. I like the combination of his vision and his humility. I love Teddy Roosevelt’s “go for it” perspective, but he had his not so hot sides too.
Favorite Verse-
1 Corinthians 15:10 is one of my favorites. I love Romans 8. Psalm 46 is currently my favorite Psalm.
What I Like Best About What I Do-
Teaching and dreaming for the church
Bio-
When I was growing up, my family went to church from time to time, but at that stage of my life, I objected to the whole affair. By the time I was a teenager I had decided religion was a fantasy to address the fears of life. To me, the fact that there are so many different religions proved that nobody really had the answers.
During college I met some Christians I liked. I tried to convince them they were mistaken, but our discussions prompted me to explore. After a period of about two years of asking, doubting, denying and arguing, I came to trust Jesus Christ as my Savior.
After college I worked in banking, got married in 1987, and in 1988 I began work on a Masters of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. I finished my M. Div. at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA then joined the staff of Third Presbyterian Church in Richmond as Missions Pastor from 1991-1997. While there I had the privilege of traveling all over the world. In 1995 I completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell, doing my research and writing on the changing nature of Presbyterianism and mainline Christianity in America. In 1997 I began to work with a number of people, in partnership with Pete Bowell, to start Hope Church. We’ve been at it for a while now and while my job like all jobs has some challenging parts, I feel very, very grateful to be able to do what I do.
More personally, I love sports, a glass of good red wine (Cabernet mostly) and spending time with people I love. I’m new to Twitter – I send a few tweets a week as DavidPDwight. If you want to check a blog where I post thoughts occasionally, visit Word & Way.
Other Involvement-
Member of the Board of Directors of Overseas Council International.