Bio

Dave Stertzbach has served as a senior pastor for 48 years. Right out of seminary, he labored in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for three years. Then he pastored Shannon Baptist Church in Shannon, Illinois, from 1973-1987. From there, God led him to Trinity Baptist Church in Williston, Vermont, from 1987-2005. Those very profitable years were followed by service at Bethel Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona, from 2005 until retirement in December 2019. The Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from BJU was awarded to him in 1990, and the Defender of the Faith Award in 1998. He served as vice-president of New England Christian Schools for twelve years, and as president of Christian Schools of Vermont for eighteen years. He has served on the boards of Baptist World Mission and Gospel Fellowship Missions for over two decades. Dave and Diane have traveled to 27 foreign mission fields.

His heartbeat is local church pastoral ministry and missions—focusing on evangelism, equipping the saints, and encouraging others in service for the Lord Jesus.

Dave and Diane (Bundy) were married on June 20, 1970, and have three sons: Dave II, Jonathan, and Joshua. Two of their sons are BJU grads. Dave II has served as a music director in two local churches for over 25 years. Jonathan was an Army chaplain with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Stertzbachs have seven grandchildren with the oldest married and preparing to go to Mexico as a missionary with her husband.