Greetings!

My name is David Bender, and I’m honored to have been called as the organizing pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church. I thank you for this chance to introduce myself. I really do look forward to meeting you, and I hope that God leads you to find your special place within this ministry. I would welcome a phone call or an e-mail message or just stop by the office and chat for a while.

While I take this calling by God and this opportunity to launch and grow a new church very seriously, I try not to take myself too seriously. So, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to list all of that important, official information about me at the bottom of this page just in case you are interested. But, for most of this section, I want to introduce myself by answering some random questions that some friends posed to me. Thanks for reading!!

Here are some random questions and even more random answers:

The best day of your life?
No question— July 10, 2003. We had been praying for those kids for a long time, and they were and are just amazing.

Who is smarter, you or Edye?
Edye

Your most embarrassing moment?
Oooh, I’m not gonna go there. I will admit something that some would find embarrassing. I am proud to say that I know the words to both the theme song of The Andy Griffith Show and to the alma mater of Mayberry Union High School.

Why choose church ministry?
Well, really, the ministry chose me, rather than me choosing her. I had and have a deep love for God and God’s Church, and my set of skills and gifts seem to lend themselves well to work in a church ministry. I like people, and I love hearing their stories. I love the chance to share with folks just a little bit of that grace that I’ve felt from God. I just think this is where God wants me.

Why a new church?
I’m excited at the chance to build something new, and it is quite an honor to be called to this position. I’m excited about being right in the middle of a community that is literally springing up from the ground. I can’t wait to the folks and hear their stories, to lead them in worshipping God and to figure out who we are and who God wants us to be.

Who are your heroes?
Well, Jesus, for sure. And my dad—I hope I’m a lot like him when I grow up. And, I really admire world changers like Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi, and I admire those who try to improve their little corner of the world, like Roberto Clemente, Nanny of the Maroons and Joseph Duffield.

Nanny of the—who??
Nanny of the Maroons. She was a keen military leader and freedom fighter in early 18th century Jamaica when they were under the rule of the British Empire.  Word is that she was pretty awesome.

How do you preach?
With great humility. Anyone who dares to try to offer God’s word had better do so with humility. I preach with energy—lots of it. I’m one who will talk to the congregation rather then reading to them. I like to tell stories rather than just spouting off big words. I try to give folks something they can hold onto, even take home and use.

What Do You Do when not working?
I’m usually playing and snuggling with the kids— facing the daily challenges that all parents and grandparents face of trying to be father and daddy and nurturer and provider. I like tennis and movies and fiction books and writing.

Best and worst thing about being a lawyer?
Let me think…the most fulfilling part of my law practice were those moments when my work helped change a life for the better.  Lots of people are victims of unfair treatment, and it was so gratifying to find a little bit of justice.  The most difficult part…I was fortunate to work with great folks. But, it seems like about 95% of my practice was deskwork.  While everyone ministers in his or her own way, I figured out that for me to do ministry, I needed to be more with the people and less with my desk.

Biggest hope for this new church?
That we can fulfill the vision that we set out on the home page—that we can love God, our neighbors and ourselves. That God will grow us into a faithful, worshipping community who gathers together, is gifted by the Spirit and goes into the world and the community.

Family
Married to Edye, a Clemson University and Presbyterian School of Christian Education graduate and a certified Christian Educator. Twin children, James and Caroline, born in July of 2003. A mother and two sisters who are ordained clergy, and a father who served as a Presbyterian elder and retired from Celanese.

Churches Served
Bethesda Presbyterian Church (USA)
York, SC, June of 2001 to April, 2007

Ft. Valley Presbyterian Church (USA)
Ft. Valley, GA, June, 2000-January, 2001—Student pastor

Druid Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)
Atlanta, GA, May, 1999-August, 1999—Pastor intern

Education
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA
Doctor of Ministry, graduating May of 2008
Final project: Playground of Our Faith: Uniting the Stories of the Gospel of Mark with the Stories of Our Lives

Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA
Master of Divinity

Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Master of Arts in Speech Communication.
Thesis title: Alternate Dispute Resolutions: A Study of the Impact of Argumentativeness and Locus of Control on ADR Choice

Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, NC
Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD).

Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Bachelor of Arts, double major in English and Mathematical Sciences.

Former Employment
Willardson, Lipscomb and Bender, attorneys, N. Wilkesboro, NC
Litigation attorney

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