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Dave Nichols
High School Pastor
E Mail
My Decision to Follow Jesus!
I had the benefit of being born into a family where both my mom and dad were followers of Jesus. I could have told you the story of Jesus when I was four, but I didn’t know what it meant. The first time I remember deciding to follow Jesus personally was when I was nine years old at one of the camps at Hume Lake called Wagon Train. I was lying on my bunk looking out the window, and I remember thinking, “I need to accept Jesus.” So I prayed right there for Jesus to come into my life and forgive me of my sins. I knew then that this had to be my decision, and not my parent’s decision for me. From then on my life has been easy and perfect! Well not exactly. I was living my life from summer camp to summer camp. I would recommit my life to Jesus every summer camp, and then really not live for him during the school year. This was until high school when my Youth Pastor called me out into leadership positions within the High School group. It was then I realized my life better match up with the leadership position and I started taking my relationship with God more seriously.
My Family …
In 2003 I took one of the greatest steps I have ever taken, besides deciding to follow Jesus, and I married my high school sweetheart, Marisa. It has been incredible growing in a relationship with her and now even having our family grow. In April 2006, we added to our family, our first child: A baby girl named Hailey Grace! She has brought joy and sleepless nights into our life, but we would have it no other way!!! My family and I love to be outdoors whether it is running, biking, or going to the beach. I am learning to surf and that has been fun both for me and Marisa, who watches me crash all the time! We also love going to Lake Havasu where we like to wakeboard, tube, and surf. You also might have a good chance of seeing us at one of our favorite restaurants namely Red Robin! (Try their 5 Alarm Burger- it’s great!).
I have a real passion for sports. I played soccer and baseball my whole life, and even had the opportunity to play baseball at Point Loma Nazarene University for a year and a half. Now I am limited to playing slow pitch softball and indoor soccer, but it is better than not playing at all! Finally, we have a passion to see high school students grow in their relationship with God and each other. That is why we have devoted our lives to serving high school students and their families.
My Calling to Ministry….
I actually received my calling to ministry when I was a senior in high school, but didn’t know it until a year later! I was attending a Christian high school when my Bible teacher told me one day I was going to be a Youth Pastor. I laughed because I was planning to be a doctor! I started attending Point Loma several months later and was taking placement tests to see what classes I needed to take with my Biology major. During those placement tests I realized I didn’t want to do this at all! I decided to change my major from Biology and take general education classes for a semester and seek the Lord and what he wanted from me. It became evident to me that my passions and giftedness was working with High School students. It was then that I changed my major to Bible with a minor in Youth Ministry. Since then I have joined the staff of Emmanuel Faith Community Church in the high school group where I have worked for three years. I now join the staff of Mission Hills Church excited to see God work in the lives of high school students. I desire to see students have a thriving relationship with Jesus, and because of that relationship have a deeper relationship with others. If I can be a part of that in any way, glory be to God. My life verse is John 3:30, “He must become greater I must become less.” If I can be a part of this process in your life in any way, please feel free to talk with me. I would love to hear from you!!!
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