Coming Alongside You

For more than 47 years, I've been involved in pastoral ministry, broadly and deeply, and I'd count it a privilege to come alongside you. Whether you're a pastor, a church, or a believer trying to move forward in your walk with Christ, I want to help.

Along the way, I've served as an associate pastor, a senior pastor, a church association director, a parachurch ministry board member, a biblical counselor, and an emergency services chaplain. That range has given me a wide view of the Lord's work and the ability to help ministry leaders both before problems arise and in the middle of them, whatever responsibilities you're carrying.

I'm ready to serve in a variety of settings and for the purposes outlined below. If you have a need or an idea for ministry, I'd welcome the chance to hear it.

Teaching

God spoke so that we could know Christ, live in Him, and carry out His mission of making disciples. From the Garden of Eden, the evil one has attacked that Word and has never stopped. That's exactly why the clear, accurate, and applicable communication of God's truth matters so much. Every part of your life and ministry is meant to be guided by it, and you can't lead others into truth you haven't been fed yourself.

I've taught God's Word in many settings to a wide range of audiences. As a pastor, my normal pattern was to preach through books of the Bible week by week, alongside sermon series built around seasons like Christmas, Easter, and Mother's and Father's Day. I've been asked to speak at family camps, men's retreats, and seminars, and I've shared God's Word with both missionaries and national believers in several countries. During my years with the Baptist Network Northwest, I spoke in about 35 churches a year in their worship services and special events.

I have a particular passion for teaching that equips those who serve others, especially in counseling. I've helped train camp staffs and pastors both here and overseas, and I'd welcome the chance to do the same for you and the people you lead.

Mentoring

Some of the most important help in ministry comes before anything goes wrong. A new pastor charting his first year. A board searching for the right man to lead them. A preacher still trying to find his footing in the pulpit. None of these is a crisis, but each one is a crossroads, and the right voice alongside you at a crossroads can change the road you take.

That's what Christian mentoring is: coaching a man in his life and ministry before the hard days come. I've walked with men in both casual and formal mentoring relationships over the years. During my time with the Baptist Network Northwest, I often came alongside men on church leadership boards as they searched for a pastor. I have a particular interest in mentoring men in pastoral leadership, counseling, and preaching.

Dr. Lunsford has a special interest in mentoring men in pastoral leadership, counseling, and preaching.

Casual mentoring is something most people experience regularly. A boss teaches a process. A friend explains how a technology works. Someone shares a perspective on a new problem their friend is facing. Dr. Lunsford regularly receives calls from friends in the ministry asking for perspective on a particular challenge.

Formal mentoring is when someone with greater experience and expertise helps another person who is new to certain tasks and does so in the context of an ongoing planned helping relationship. Dr. Lunsford is available for such ongoing interaction primarily with men in full-time ministry.

Counseling

Counseling is coming alongside a person, couple, or family who has reached a crisis and is struggling to understand how to restore and rebuild their lives and move forward. As a certified Biblical Counselor of 25+ years, I’m regularly called on for extended intensive work with people in crisis.

Testimonials

  • "We have welcomed Dave to our church several times in the past 2.5 years, and each time he has encouraged us. His sermon on grief was not only exegetically sound, but warmly pastoral, and in God’s providence it came at the right time for our church. He has always served with humility and grace, and he and Darlene are so joyful. I ask him to preach not because he’s available, but because I know he will spiritually feed our people well."

    —Pastor Craig

  • "Over Valentine's weekday, Pastor Dave ministered to our church family through different events centering us on the love of Christ. The decades of his wisdom and experience through preaching and counseling were evident and appreciated as he carefully yet pointedly taught and applied the Bible. With ease, He gracefully moved through different events that focused on different demographics within our church family, making the Word of God relevant to his audience. I would highly recommend Pastor Dave and his ministry whether it be to fidgety teens, aimless young adults, drowning parents, or coasting retirees."

    —Pastor Andrew

  • "We are very thankful for Pastor David Lunsford. He’s willing and very capable of helping people in great crises. He has helped our family when we faced the heartache of our son’s mental breakdown. Pastor Lunsford loved our son & ministered to him with God’s Word to help him deal with his sinful heart issues. He helped our son grow in the Lord and helped put him on the path to a successful adult life. Some years he helped our family navigate the heartbreak and difficulty of my suicide attempt. Pastor Lunsford was gentle but confident to give us the biblical counsel we needed to navigate this storm in our lives. We are so grateful for his strong and faithful commitment to God’s Word and God’s ways. We don’t feel we have the words to truly express how God has used him to help and bless our family."

    —Pastor

  • "Dave has ministered to our congregation many times, and each time he has skillfully communicated encouragement through sound Biblical truths. I appreciate his insights which reflect his desire to build the body of believers and to reach others for Christ. "

    Local church Deacon