About Me
Dave Beckwith is a pastor and conference speaker who presents a clear-cut message from the Word of God to young and old alike. Since 1970, Dave has been speaking at camps, churches, youth events, schools, and conferences. When Dave speaks, his enthusiasm for God is contagious. He communicates with excitement, conviction, and practical application from the Word of God. Dave served as the Senior Pastor of Woodbridge Community Church in Irvine, California from 1987 through 2006. With the completion of the new facilities and the church campus, Dave retired from his Senior Pastor responsibilities to devote time to speaking, writing, training leaders, and personal evangelism. Past ministry experience, all in California, includes serving as a Youth Pastor of Fillmore First Presbyterian and Santa Paula First Baptist, Sr. Pastor of Yorba Linda Friends in Yorba Linda and Bethel Baptist in Santa Rosa, planning and leading the early development of Friends Christian School in Orange County, Professor of Biblical Studies at Grace in Long Beach, and Program Director and Conference Speaker with Mt. Gilead Bible Conference Center in Northern California.
In addition to pastoral and teaching ministries, Dave has a great burden for evangelism and missions. After the Los Angeles Watts riots of 1965, Dave was involved in developing and directing the outreach of 250 of the Biola University students each week into the black community of Watts. While ministering in the inner city, God was developing his vision for home as well as foreign missions. Evangelistic ministry and tours to several parts of the world have served to increase this concern for a needy world. While singing with the Continental Singers in the Far East, he had the opportunity to sing and share Christ in the casualty wards for the American servicemen who were wounded in the Viet Nam War.
Dave graduated from Biola University in 1970 with the B.S. Degree in Business Administration. Dave served on the student council all his years at Biola and was President of the Student Missionary Union for two years. He was selected "Mr. Biola" for Homecoming of 1970. During that same year, his personal testimony appeared in Power Life. In 1973, he graduated from Talbot Theological Seminary with the M.A. Degree in Christian Education where he served as Student Body Vice President. Additional graduate studies include the M.A. Degree in Biblical Studies and Ph.D. Degree in Church Administration.
His wife, Joanne, is also involved in teaching family living and spiritual growth. Joanne completed her training as a Registered Nurse at Biola University in 1971. As a nurse, she has worked in the specialized fields of adolescent and adult psychological issues and alcohol rehabilitation. Joanne served as the Director of Women’s Ministries at Woodbridge Community Church from 1987 to 2006.
Dave and Joanne were married June 8, 1969. Their two daughters, Julie and Tami, are married, and they have 4 grandchildren.
In addition to pastoral and teaching ministries, Dave has a great burden for evangelism and missions. After the Los Angeles Watts riots of 1965, Dave was involved in developing and directing the outreach of 250 of the Biola University students each week into the black community of Watts. While ministering in the inner city, God was developing his vision for home as well as foreign missions. Evangelistic ministry and tours to several parts of the world have served to increase this concern for a needy world. While singing with the Continental Singers in the Far East, he had the opportunity to sing and share Christ in the casualty wards for the American servicemen who were wounded in the Viet Nam War.
Dave graduated from Biola University in 1970 with the B.S. Degree in Business Administration. Dave served on the student council all his years at Biola and was President of the Student Missionary Union for two years. He was selected "Mr. Biola" for Homecoming of 1970. During that same year, his personal testimony appeared in Power Life. In 1973, he graduated from Talbot Theological Seminary with the M.A. Degree in Christian Education where he served as Student Body Vice President. Additional graduate studies include the M.A. Degree in Biblical Studies and Ph.D. Degree in Church Administration.
His wife, Joanne, is also involved in teaching family living and spiritual growth. Joanne completed her training as a Registered Nurse at Biola University in 1971. As a nurse, she has worked in the specialized fields of adolescent and adult psychological issues and alcohol rehabilitation. Joanne served as the Director of Women’s Ministries at Woodbridge Community Church from 1987 to 2006.
Dave and Joanne were married June 8, 1969. Their two daughters, Julie and Tami, are married, and they have 4 grandchildren.