Student Pastor
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Pastor Dave McManus
Pastor Dave and his family are our newest additions to the pastoral staff here at BBC. Not new to teenagers, Dave and Kim have been school teachers at a Christian school right here in Fayetteville. It has been in the last year that Dave has felt the Lord's call upon his life to preach the gospel. At that same time the Lord was moving BBC's former student pastor on to a new ministry. The transition seemed natural as Dave and Kim were already a part of the family here at BBC and very involved in the lives of Bereans. Pastor Dave and Kim have two sons.
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Recently we had a chance to sit down with Pastor Dave and get to know a bit more about him. This is what we found.
When and where you born?
February 22, 1978 in Morgantown, WV
Where did you go to school?
BA/BS: BA English, BA History (Emory & Henry)
MA/MS: M.Ed. English (UNC-Greensboro)
Currently working on Master of Divinity at Shepherd's Theological Seminary in Cary, NC
How did you come to know Jesus?
I was raised in a home where the things of God were less than a priority, and as I grew into adulthood, I maintained that lack of reverence for the Lord. As far as I was concerned, He did not exist, and if by chance He did, I wanted nothing to do with Him. Many attempts were made on my part to fill that void in my life with things as varied as academic achievement and basketball to drugs and alcohol. After a successful college basketball career, I entered into the teaching and coaching profession in Greensboro, NC. It was during my first year in the classroom that God drew near to me and tore down all my self-made obstacles that I had constructed over the years. In the span of two months, the September 11th attacks occurred (which took away my security), I tore my ACL in my knee (which took away my ability to escape in sports), and my mother passed away suddenly at the age of 51 (which brought me to a point of examining my own mortality). After many conversations and divine appointments, I found myself in a Sunday morning service at Westover Church in Greensboro, NC, and for some reason, I was back the following Sunday and the Sunday after that. It was on that third Sunday (leave it to God to save me on the third day I was in church!) that I placed my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as my sole means of salvation. Like Paul on the Damascus road, I had little choice in the matter. I was confronted by the amazing presence of the God of the universe, and the love and grace He offered were nothing short of irresistible.
Less than one year later I was volunteering in the youth group at my church when I was introduced to a fellow volunteer named Kimberly Dayton. I know “love at first sight” is a little clichéd nowadays, but I knew I had met my wife that evening. She took a little more convincing . . . but she came around pretty quickly and we were engaged less than six months later. We were married January 3, 2004, and we have gone down this road that God has planned for us as one. We have both been in Christian education ever since, and we have loved being able to bring our love for Jesus into the classroom. In addition, God has given me the opportunity to play basketball overseas and use the game as a platform for the gospel in my mission work with Crossfire Ministries. Kim coaches volleyball and I coach basketball, and our goal is always to glorify Christ on and off the court. Kim teaches sixth grade at Freedom Christian Academy in Fayetteville and coaches their varsity volleyball team.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Spend time with my family; Basketball; Baseball; Softball; Golf; I love to read
Who is your favorite author?
So difficult to narrow it down . . . My favorites are J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. In the realm of Christian knowledge, I enjoy John MacArthur and John Piper. In literature, I like Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Cormac McCarthy. And when I’m in a light-hearted mood, nothing beats Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Series!
What is your favorite book?
Outside of the Bible, my favorite books are The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and Mere Christianity by Lewis.
What is your favorite movie of all time?
Another difficult question . . . Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight, and Tombstone.
Who are you favorite sports teams?
THE Pittsburgh Steelers; Pittsburgh Pirates; Pittsburgh Penguins; Indiana Pacers; West Virginia University; Duke University Basketball
Why did you become a Student Pastor?
I approached Kim in December 2010 and told her that the Lord had been revealing to me a call to ministry. I even said that I would be willing to give up basketball, and my wife knew immediately that I was serious! I have always loved speaking to groups of all ages about the Lord Jesus, but I had never envisioned myself being anything other than a teacher. Fortunately, God razed the box that I had put myself in and blessed me with the opportunity to lead the student ministry here at Berean! God is so good in that I will still have the opportunity to teach young people in the classroom and to continue mentoring young men on the basketball court as well. My goal is to serve Him, glorify Him, and share the love of Christ with the students here at Berean, and I cannot imagine a more wonderful pursuit in this life. To God alone be the glory!
Who was the biggest influence in your life growing up?
My grandfather William Leber. He gave me love and wisdom, and my love for sports would not be there if not for him. He looked out for my sister and I when we desperately needed it and provided us what we would not have had otherwise. My son is named after him.
What book are you reading right now?
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan, Ancient World and Changing Worlds by Stephen J. Nichols, and Extrememly Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Sushi or Steak?
Steak. Rare. But I do love sushi, too . . .
Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
Lemon or Lime?
Lemon. There’s suddenly a U2 song in my head . . .
Mac or PC?
I know Mac is probably cooler, but I’m just a regular PC guy.
What is your favorite Bible verse:
1 Timothy 1:12-16
What is your desire for teenagers and their families?
My desire for our teenagers is to experience the love of Christ, come to a saving knowledge of Christ, and to exemplify Christ in all that they do. I want them to receive the Word of God unadulterated and unfiltered so that they are confronted with the absolute and undeniable truth of our Lord Jesus, and I pray that the impact is so great that our students can do nothing short of bow their knees and follow Him. In addition, I want them to have fellowship and fun, so that they may live this Christian life to the fullest!
I pray that our families would embrace what we are doing with our students and our church as a whole and commit to discipling their children at home. My hope is that our students would take what we learn home and stimulate conversation, discussion, and prayer from their families. I am simply a servant in this venture, subservient to the family and God’s Will for it. If we commit to keeping God first in this venture, our students will produce myriad fruits as we watch them grow in Christ.
Influences
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