Remembering our dear Pastor Dave on his birth anniversary. Memories of times with Pastor Dave as our Associate Pastor and friend and mentor remain fresh as ever in our minds and hearts. 

I knew Dave in Seattle and Portland in the 1980s and was blessed to meet up for a meal in L.A. around 1999. Why do I think of Dave after all of these years?
Pastor Dave was one of my greatest mentors in my spiritual walk, overcoming debilitating depression, seeing my worth through God's eyes and dealing with relationship issues. Just yesterday I came across a few of his written sermons from decades ago. His loving fingerprints helped to shape me and will always be part of who I am. I look forward to that day when we will see each other again.

Thank you, God, for bringing Dave into my life at a time that was a direct answer to prayer for help to keep living. You are a wonderful Father who blessed me with David at just the right time, and over and over again.

May we walk faithfully and follow those in the faith who go before us as they follow God, that those behind us may have godly guides to see the path more clearly!

Remembering dear Pastor Dave, still with sadness that he is no longer physically here, on the anniversary of his passing. Although ten years have passed, his memory is still very much alive in my consciousness. He was truly God's gift to me and countless others.

A bit past his birthday...but still remembering dear Pastor Dave in a very special way. The Spirit of Christ was so evident in. his life...he indeed was God's light and blessing to countless folks including me. Am ever grateful to dear God that our paths crossed....

Remembering dear Pastor Dave on his death anniversary. His life among us is still very much alive in our consciousness and being. He was truly God's channel of blessing and His light to us and countless others. He is greatly missed!

Remembering dear Pastor Dave on his birth anniversary. He will always be in our active consciousness. And a very special part of our life. We are ever thankful to our Lord for having our paths cross. 

Remembering Pastor Dave in a dear and special way on the anniversary of his passing into eternity. You will always have a very special place in our hearts Pastor Dave. Beautiful memories keep you alive among us to this day...

Remembering dear Pastor Dave on his birth anniversary. Seems like only yesterday that he was among us leading us through the Holy Land. His spirit lives on among us. Ever grateful to our Lord that our paths crossed! You will always be a special part of my life, Pastor Dave.

Remembering dear Pastor Dave on his death anniversary. You are very much alive in our consciousness to this day. We thank dear Lord for making our paths cross many years ago! The times we shared together are still very vivid in our memories. You will always be a special part of our family.

Remembering you dearly on your birthday, Pastor Dave. Your spirit remains very much alive in my being. You were a true picture of Jesus' servant heart and love to all - and I will be forever grateful to dear God that our paths crossed many years ago. I can still feel your gentle spirit, your compassionate heart, your smiling and caring countenance. We will meet again someday. You will always be in our hearts forever. Missing your presence among us dearly.

Dear brother Dave what to say...its been many years now but tears still in remembering you on your birthday....
For all your gentle words and tender heartednesses, who knew you were so lionhearted courageous to quietly lead in towards where angels dare not tread...but so you did and kept the faith & your word steadfastly to the end...some of us are pressing on still, due to that inspiring courage, mighty patience and loving sacrifice...we were wondering how to surprise you with your birthday present
... when came your unexpected parting words to some of us..."But You O LORD, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the One who holds my head high. I cried out to the LORD, and He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me."....May it be so for you in Glory as well as for your loved ones and your flock still for as long as the Grace of The Lord is.
For...Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...therefore, he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose....and so you simply did brother. Thank you for steadfastly keeping His flock safe & well...
You are painfully missed....we shall be keeping faithfully your missed birthday gift to pass on to you when we pass on too...
Shalom & Agape..
J

Remembering dear Pastor Dave on his death anniversary and the gift of his life and friendship to us. You will always be part of my conscious memory, Pastor Dave. We miss you to this day....

Remembering dear Pastor Dave on his birthday. He is still very much alive in my life. Images of his warm smile and reassuring spirit are so fresh in my memory. Thank you Lord for the gift of Pastor Dave's life and friendship to my family. You are truly forever missed. We look forward to that great reunion in the loving arms of our Lord.

Although you're not among us, but your legacy still prevails. I just can only imagine how happy and complete you are before your Creator.

Thinking with dismay at all those who loved you and are left behind, but better that you had been here to touch their lives than not! Thinking with joy and anticipation at your current place in His Kingdom!

Seems like only yesterday that you were in our midst teaching, sharing. Thanking our Lord for sharing you with us all! What a blessing your mentoring, friendship, example has been to us...we learned about true servant hood through your life. One day we will meet again. You are in the best company ever.

Remembering our very dear Pastor Dave on his birth anniversary yesterday. He is still very much alive in our hearts and consciousness. Ever grateful to our Lord that our paths crossed, and for the life lessons he imparted...and the warmth and sincerity of his friendship and care for all.

Remembering our very dear Pastor Dave on his death anniversary...a very painful memory to this day! You will truly be forever missed, Pastor Dave. Am so grateful to our dear Lord that our paths crossed. One day, we will meet again in God's heavenly kingdom...

Remembering our very dear Pastor Dave on his birth anniversary. He was truly God's bright and special light to my life and the lives of many others. He will always be forever missed. Pastor Dave, I can just see you smiling down at all of us here, a smile that is forever engraved in my memory along with your hearty, warm laughter. We all love you!

Happy Birthday Dave, so often think of you and the ministry you had here at Union Church. We knew you loved and cared for us. Your God given gift of relating the Word to what was happening in our lives made scripture come alive and real in a way I had not experienced before. Thankful our paths crossed, will always miss you.

I pray for the Ginter family, may God grant them their heart's desires, although they went through a terrible and sad situation, I'd like to mention that passage written in the Bible:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".

I know that Dave is gone, but his legacy still remains. I don't know what is to feel that pain, but I'm sure God will work all things for good, albeit sometimes things are painful and nonsense.

Thank you so much for sharing those simple but powerful words with me. Till this day when I struggle I remember those, they give me motivation, courage, wisdom and confidence. Thank you so much for being a source of knowledge and kindness, I'll never forget that.

In honor of Dave, I want to share one thing about him that really stands out as I think of the time we shared together. I remember his wit and banter. He had a quick response for everything. He was always playful and joking. He couldn't really ever accept a compliment. He'd always turn it into a joke and side step it. Probably helped keep him humble. But when there was a moment when someone in his "flock" was hurting, with impeccable timing, he would always step in with just the right words to offer to bring clarity, love, comfort, correction. I'll always remember when my husband, Aaron, lost his job in Guate and we almost had to move back to the US prematurely, but then found a job last minute - Pastor Dave was so genuinely joyful at the news - it was moments like that when the banter and joking came down and we knew how deeply he cared for us. Another moment like that was when, upon returning from Egypt back to his home in Guate, Aaron broke some souvenir that Dave had brought back from Egypt. Aaron felt terrible. We were about to leave the country and it was one of the last times we expected to see Dave before we moved away. But before Aaron could begin to beat himself up about the clumsy mistake, Dave looked right in his eyes and told him, "Hey, don't worry about that at all. You are so much more important than that souvenir." It was that juxtaposition of silly banter that kept things light and playful 90% of the time with occasional moments of profound connection that showed the depth of love he had for those of us he pastored that really stands out to me about Dave's personality and character. 
We only spent under three years together from when he arrived in Guatemala to the time we returned to the States. But no person outside my family has had such a profound impact on my life, my faith, my calling (I'm a pastor now), or my family (my husband was Saved under Dave's guidance). Our son Elliot David bears his name to honor him. I so often wish I still could call on him as a mentor. It was such a gift that our paths crossed for those two short years. He was a beloved spiritual guide to my husband and me, helping us grow to love Jesus so deeply. There is no greater gift or legacy. And I thank the Lord for his life, lived faithfully before the God, for his glory.

Thinking of Dave today. We loved our time together the two years we lived in Guatemala. His ministry and friendship added a lot to our lives, and I'm sure there are hundreds just like us who were touched by Dave and will always fondly remember him.

Pastor Dave will truly be forever remembered and forever missed! He was a bright, shining candle in my life; and a clear picture of one in whom the Spirit of our Lord Jesus lives and reigns. Thank you dear God for his life, and for the special blessing of being touched by him in countless ways. You will always be forever in our hearts, Pastor Dave!

Remembering our very dear and precious Pastor Dave Ginter on his birth anniversary with great sadness that he is no longer with us physically. But nevertheless, continually grateful to our dear Lord for making our paths cross, and blessing us with the gift of experiencing Pastor Dave's amazing love and compassion for people. He is truly forever missed.

Dave Ginter has always been a light in my life since the first time I heard him speak. He still shines brightly in my mind and heart. We love him so much, his light will ALWAYS shine. Although I miss him greatly, I KNOW FOR SURE he is in the presence of our Lord God. Thank you for having the privilege to meet him and share wonderful moments too.

Miss my life time friend a lot... But as a Christian brother, we know that he wins. It's a fact. Jesus is our only hope, and no matter who we are, we win when we let him come in to our hearts... WE have to open the door. John 3:16

Remembering dear Pastor Dave on his death anniversary. His spirit is still so alive in my life...hard to believe he is away from us till we meet again in God's heavenly kingdom. Thank you Lord for how your so graciously brought Pastor Dave into our lives, and how we learned about being Your loving and committed servant from him. He will truly be forever missed.

Tomorrow I preach on 'The Good Samaritan' at our church in Singapore. I remember Pastor Dave's sermon on that passage back at UCM. He added insights from his time in the Middle East which I have not forgotten. In particular noting that by stripping this man and beating him unconscious, that man had lost his identity. Different groups wore different clothes. So ... the parable cuts through our 'group affiliations'.

I also well remember acting with him in the Last Supper plays at Easter. 
He was a man whose example I like to follow in several important ways.

Remembering our very dear Pastor Dave on his birth anniversary today. Although he is physically apart from us, the fullness of life he lived in Christ continues to be a very real part of my own personal journey. Thank you Lord for sharing him with us those few years in Manila and after.

Remembering our dear Pastor Dave on this day with much sadness at his passing. But thankful for his beautiful life which was so filled with the Spirit of God in countless ways! He will indeed be forever missed by us. Thanking our Lord for special memories of his time with us here, and life lessons learned from and through him.

I preached yesterday on 1 Cor. 15, That if our hope in Christ was for this life only than we are most to be pitied. I couldn't help but think of pastor Dave the whole time I was preparing. First, I never would have gone into ministry had it not been for his influence. Second, I borrowed ideas from a sermon I heard him preach on that text years ago. - if they found Jesus' body would you still be a Christian? Pastor Dave said no. And I say no. But our hope is in Jesus' bodily resurrection and the bodily resurrection we wait for. Dave lived out this sermon in so many ways and I for one can't wait to see him again. With love and gratitude...

As we approach the anniversary of the day our dear Pastor Dave went home to be with the Lord, I recall with deep sadness his passing. And continue to be ever grateful to our God that our paths crossed during his life here on earth. Am so thankful for how God taught me about caring for others through his life. He will forever be missed but alive in our memories.

David was my friend, no matter how much time passed seeing each other... Sometimes, my wife Jolene and I would get home, and there he would be setting on our porch... No warning, just there, because he knew it would ok. It was. I wish there was more sense made from his death, but we are trusting that God has already made sense of it.

Remembering Pastor Dave Ginter at the start of this new year, and continuing to miss him...and all he was to our family. His example as a truly shining light for Jesus in this imperfect world is well imbedded in my memory. Thank you Lord for sharing him with us in his lifetime.

I learned of Pastor Dave's passing at the Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve at the Union Church of Guatemala. I was shocked, angered and very, very sad. How could this happen to such a special person with an equally special soul?
I am thankful for the way he touched my life, and the way he helped us through my brother's illness and passing.
When he preached I got totally immersed into his words, jokes and messages and for the first time, through him, felt a closeness to God, that I had not been able to feel in any church.
I was sad to see him leave Guatemala but I knew that wherever he would be, he would help someone else and I needed to let him go.
I would have loved to know him better but feel blessed that the short time that I did, he touched my life and made it better. I enjoyed having him and Sheryl over to my house for lunch. He blessed my home and my life.
I will miss you and will hold you in my hear forever.
My deepest sympathy to Sheryl and this children.
Rest in peace, Pastor Dave.

It would be impossible to exaggerate the impact Pastor Dave had on my life and my husband's life. What better gift is there then to lead another into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ? I still think about Pastor Dave nearly every day. Every time I open the Bible I remember something he taught me. I so wish I could still ask for his wisdom and advice! <3

Janet Cothrell - Thank you for your post about praying for his murderers - I too pray that God use David's death to bring repentence and eternal life. What a perspective. Jesus said the greatest love a man has is when he gives his life for another. David did this.

David Ginter was a Martyr. I ask everyone here to pray for his murderers as well, that they be made anew, and that his death reverberate in an unexpected way throughout the Moslem community. This is, in my humble opinion, the best tribute to a man like Dave, who spent his life working in the fields of The Lord.

I am tearing up reading these tributes. When I was young I didn't have the perspective as now on the value of the moment/of loss (thinking there would be another moment later). One moment you know someone, they leave an imprint on your heart, you go grow up & time closes a door before you are ready. TEARS, . I'm so sorry for this loss...Until I see you again Mr.Ginter - thank you!

We remember our dear Pastor Dave on his birthday tomorrow, July 19. And thank our dear Lord for the gift of his life to his family, friends, and to the world. Pastor Dave, you will forever be a part of our lives. Thank you for how you showed us about living the life God calls one to live.

"I wandered in the Union Church of Guatemala, and when I listened to Dave Ginter, my spiritual relationship with GOD, changed forever!! I loved every word he said. He encouraged everyone to participate in fascinating discussion, (not sermons) He was a brilliant historian which encouraged everyone, because he always put God's word in the historical perspective which he mastered so well.LO

So sad to hear about this. I met you two years ago and you still displayed that passion and zeal for the Lord. Now you are with the King of Kings. My condolences to his family and friends...Will definitely be missed my friend!

Pastor Dave,

You were a wonderful person, a fantastic human being and a fine example of Christ to follow. You will never be forgotten. Heaven is rejoicing.

The gentlest kindest most fatherly man I've yet to meet! Though I've not known him for long he had impacted me with the way his heart encompassed everybody within his stride. Nothing was too small & he'd lose no time in seeing to it. What a legacy you've left behind Ps Dave! Right now I can picture Him saying to him "Well done good & faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord"

Pastor Dave was a true blessing to my husband and I.His sermons were amazing,one could apply easily to our day to daytribulations.His sense of humor was awsome,I feel honored that Pastor Dave was the one who presented our son in Union Church Guatemala, it was a lovely ceremony and I remember so well his statement "welcome to union church the youngest non voting member" always remembered!

Dave was so very present with our family during Dennis' terrible illness in 2002. He came almost every day. Loved working with him developing adult ed classes. He was sort of a Barnabas kind of guy, I thought. He encouraged many toward a deeper, more authentic relationship with the Lord. I'm so saddened that his life has been cut short so tragically.

It was my high privilege to work with Dave on my staff at Union Church of Manila. Our friendship has grown over the years since then. I thank God for colleagues like Dave. He was committed to serve the Lord with his God-given gifts for as long as he had breath. May our Lord and Savior receive him now into His everlasting arms where no evil can touch him again.

Dave Ginter, a high school classmate. So Caring! He reached out across the ocean many times to check in with me to see how my husband his friend from high school was doing with his health. He took the time to write a few words that meant so much to myself and my husband. I could tell he was a very special human being. I send prayers to his family for peace and comfort.