“It’s the ability to love other
people,” an interview with Pastor David King
By Alannah Allbrett
Pastor David King, of
Riverside Assembly of God, has been in the ministry since 1978. He was once
asked to speak to a youth group while in training in
David met his wife-to-be,
Phyllis, in a Sunday School class. He was a senior in high school at the time.
They graduated together, and both attended
As a middle child from a
large family, David felt he was sort of invisible. He said he had severe
emotional problems and felt very isolated as a child. At the age of 15 he was
brought into the faith by a youth pastor who was the first person who showed an
interest in him. “We had a series of meetings together.”
“I was rebellious and wanted
to be taken as a false prophet – as an anti-Christ and taken seriously, but he
did not reject me,” said David. “He
didn’t give up on me. I was glad that he was there, and he included me in a
summer camp at
Tribune: “What does faith
mean to you?”
King: “Faith means putting
your trust in something. In my case, it means trusting in Jesus Christ and his
finished work on the cross. I have come to know what faith is. That kind of
faith is the spoke and axel. It dictates what I do as a father, a husband, and a
worker.”
Tribune: “Do you know you are
in God’s will and that He guides you?
King: “Most of the time. I do
what is right, and I trust that God will let me know if I am wrong. I don’t
believe in an autistic God. Occasionally, I feel he has spoken to me. But most
of the time, I trust in Him to just guide me by an understanding of what I ought
and ought not to do.”
Tribune: “What is an example
of a manifestation of faith?”
King: “It’s the ability to
love other people. In our church about half the people have come to church for
long periods of time [in their lives]. The other half is people relatively
unchurched. They are genuinely embraced by our congregation. God loved the world
so much that he gave his only son, and we’re here to spread that good news to
those who are looking for and needing peace, joy, love, and faith.”
Tribune: “How does your
church serve the “unchurched?”
King: “One way is we go to
the State Hospital North and bring people to church when they have someone who
wants to come. We are one of the first [listed] in the phone book, so we get
called first when people are looking for help. We are not very rich, but it’s
one of the ministries we get to do.”
If you have a teenage
ministry – there is more noise and clutter, but that’s a good kind of problem.
If you have little children, they are wigglier and noisier, but that’s a good
kind of problem too.
Our people have the ability
to show their love to other people and not turn them away. For instance, we have
an ashtray on the front porch. We don’t want you to smoke (because it’s bad for
you), but you are accepted. All of us have things in life that we can improve.
We are not your average kind of church. People don’t feel judged here. We have a
hard time getting the service started each week because everybody loves to gab.”
During the week, Pastor King
works at the prison. He is the coordinator for inmates who want to get their
G.E.D.’s. He works with LCSC, identifying student needs, testing, getting them
started in classes, and arranging their G.E.D. tests. He considers this work
part of his ministerial calling as well. “Its one of the spokes that comes out
from the axel of my faith. I want to treat them as Jesus would have me [treat
them]. I don’t consider that as a separate part of my life.”
Tribune: “What are some of
your ministerial goals?”
King: “We are trying to
figure out how to have an outreach to the convalescent center near the high
school and the
In their services at
Riverside Assembly of God, they try to have the children in the congregation
take an active part in the service whenever possible. One of their sons, Jordan,
from
Asked if their church sang
the old hymns or new praise and worship
songs, David said they do a mixture for everybody. It’s usually one old hymn,
with two or three choruses from the 70’s and 80’s, and one or two new songs.
His wife, Phyllis, besides
running a daycare, answers the phone and handles office duties for the church
from their home. She also leads the song service. David considers her a strong
part of their ministerial team effort and said, “She is the number one Counselor
for the Pastor.”
The Kings came to Orofino