Yesterday I hopped in the car and drove through a predicted 12 inches of snow.

I arrived at the Cleveland clinic with mixed feelings.

I was told my mentor and friend was very sick.

A little over a month ago I sat in my office talking and laughing with David Plaster,  lead pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus,  and former Vice President of Grace College and Theological Seminary. He agreed to ordain me this Spring. A few weeks later he was in the hospital with a life-threatening disease. His loving family is sharing daily updates with us on this site.  

I had already prepared myself for the worst. Anyone who knows Dave is familiar with his incredibly sharp intellect. He taught me and my fellow classmates most of what we know when it comes to theology. Standing at his bedside yesterday Dave couldn’t say or do much.

Still, I was touched by the strength of his family. I felt it natural to tell them of Dave’s investment in me at a very dark time in my life. In fact, he is very instrumental as to where I am today. Although Dave couldn’t talk, as I told my stories he cried.

I prayed for he and the family and he cried some more. I told him the whole city of Columbus was praying for him.  

His supportive wife fed him his lunch and he even drank the unpleasant drink the nurses provided him. I’ll tell you though- he let us know it tasted nasty.

The whole way back I thought about how Dave has mattered to me:

• 1998 – Dave heard I wanted to be a military chaplain with the CMA denomination and so he asked me to come to his office. He told me that I should be a Grace Brethren Chaplain and stay on for Seminary at Grace.
• 1998 - After I agreed (you can’t tell Dave no) he began to mentor me on a weekly basis.
• 1998 - Because I was going to be a military chaplain Dave told me I needed to do an M.Div. in counseling not an M.Div. in pastoral studies. Turns out it was a good choice because a year later I met my wife Kelly in marrigage and family counseling class.
• 1999 – Dave bought me my first NASB Bible as a college graduation present. (see pic)
• 1999 - Dave did some digging and found a pretty significant scholarship so that I could attend seminary and remain debt free.
• 1999 – Dave got me my first “pastor” job, an intern under his friend Galen Wiley at Warsaw Community Grace Brethren Church.
• 1999 – Dave prepared me for my license exam as a pastor.
• 2000 - Dave baptized me (see pic).
• 2000 – Dave counseled me for marriage, cracked the code on how to do taxes as a pastor, and was involved in my wedding.
• 2000 – When I was senior pastor at Tiosa Brethren Church, Dave helped me do my first funeral when someone in my church died suddenly.
• 2000 – Dave filled my pulpit so I could go on my honeymoon.
•  2001 – Dave helped me prepare my flock at Tiosa for my transition to my new church (Grace Church).
• 2003 – Dave edited my first book using his theolgical grid.
• 2003 – Dave stayed at our house as he taught at the Grace Seminary site in Columbus. He couldn’t eat much of our food because we like sugar a whole bunch.
• 2005 – Dave agreed to be part of my Advisory Board for my Doctorate program.
• 2006 – Dave helped me defend my dissertation.
• 2008 – Dave began mentoring me again as he returned to Columbus while filling his new post as lead pastor.
• 2008 – Dave joined my monthly NCO small group and blessed us younger pastors with his wise counsel.
• 2009 – Dave and I co-taught a seminar at the Equip 09 conference.
• 2010 – Dave began to prepare me for ordination.

This September my new book YOUR SECRET NAME releases. In it I tell my story. Naturally, Dave Plaster, fills several pages including this one: 

 I started the first semester of graduate school apprehensively, knowing all too well the horror stories about the difficulty of the seminary’s counseling track. My mentor Dr. Plaster, who also served as the Vice President, encouraged this track because in his mind it would better prepare me to be a military chaplain. I followed his recommendation, but at the moment all it felt like was twice the work.

Under the seminary banner I had Greek and Hebrew classes to confound my brain, while under the counseling banner I had Addictive Disorders and Abnormal Psychology classes to challenge my soul.

Relatively new into the semester while sitting in one of my counseling classes I saw a stunning girl who not only took my breath away, but also my attention. She walked in extremely late—and extremely confidently—and I promptly tuned out the rest of the class, much more interested in her than the lecture.

Dave played a major role in me discovering MY SECRET NAME. Amidst my bout with depression and self-injury, when a professor failed me from a counseling class for my confession of cutting, Dave stepped in and overruled his decision. At a time when hardly anyone believed in me Dave stepped forward and defended me.

I’ve dedicated each of my books to a loved one. My first one ( The Journey Towards Relevance) to Kelly. My next one (Called) to Keegan. My 3rd one (The Fine Line) to Isabel. And my upcoming one (Your Secret Name) to Addison.

Yesterday I told my mentor and friend I was going to jointly dedicate Your Secret Name to him as well. I did tell him though that Addison looks much more beautiful than him. 

He laughed and then he cried. 

We are praying for you and your family Dave.

God knows when he needs you more than we do. 

(Keep track of Dave here)