Ministry Focus
The Lord called Dave to missions during his undergraduate years at Rutgers through Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. As a Missions Door Campus Ambassador for 18 years, Dave worked in campus ministry, worship ministry, and preaching/teaching. In 1991 the Mission approved his involvement in a strategic partnership with a small evangelical leadership training school now known as The Vine Institute (a "doing business as" of Salt Lake Theological Seminary). The Vine cultivates leaders in Christ for ministry in a diverse, collaborative Body of Christ; its training is done in multiethnic small clusters of emerging Christian leaders from refugee and immigrant people groups as well as established churches. As the author of I love Mormons, he also speaks and leads seminars on evangelizing Mormon people.
Faith Story
David's parents gave him a prophetic middle name - Livingstone, and Dave embraces the legacy of that famous doctor: he loves to join the action where God sets fire to souls in unlikely places - like Salt Lake City, Utah, the nerve center of Mormon culture as well as one of the country's few official UN Resettlement Sites for refugees.
Dave became a Christian through a child evangelism ministry. Hazel met the Lord in high school.
Education
Dave: M.Div. from Denver Seminary, Ph.D. in Communication from University of Utah
Hazel: B.A. in French from Denver University, M.S. in Linguistics from University of Utah
WAYS TO SUPPORT
David and Hazel by making a financial donation using a Credit Card or by Direct Debit (ACH).
Learn more about where this ministry happens
In colorful communities and along scenic highways, diverse people and landscapes span coast to coast
Iconic American traditions include Thanksgiving dinner, jazz music and the Super Bowl. They meld with eclectic examples of multicultural heritage: numerous local Chinatowns, family-owned taquerias and even cowboy boots, which originated among the nomadic Huns of eastern Europe.
The nation's landscape shows just as many contrasts — sandy beaches and rocky coastlines, open plains and vast deserts, rugged mountains and winding canyons, and abundant rivers and lakes.
The ideals of life and liberty that founded the United States have made the country one of the world's most prosperous, though not without dark chapters and present troubles. Crime, discrimination and ethics violations make regular headlines, and many people live below the national poverty level.
Families view education as essential to the pursuit of happiness, if not also a path to wealth and power for the most ambitious. Yet Americans also demonstrate a charitable spirit of generosity toward neighbors and nations in need.
Freedom of religion grants opportunity for all faiths, but Christianity holds particular influence in country's history and daily life.
Your participation with Missions Door supports ministry in the United States among college students, including many international students, in collaboration local churches. It also enables social outreach, church planting and leadership development in a wide variety of communities — among Native Americans and other cultural groups, and in urban and suburban settings where growing and changing demographics create new opportunities for the Gospel.
Cultural Snapshot
Aside from the Native American, Native Hawaiian and Native Alaskan populations, nearly all Americans and their ancestors immigrated to the United States.
Faith Fact
In a 2013 survey, 56% of Americans said that religion played a "very important role in their lives” — a larger number than any other wealthy nation.
Country Profile
Population: 320 million
Major Religions: 47% Protestant, 23% unaffiliated, 21% Catholic, 6% other
Languages: 82% English, 11% Spanish, various others
Literacy: 99%
Poverty: 16%
Ministry service area:
Specialized Ministries
Ministry location:
Utah, United States