1. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 12/17/2016 Page : C10
Copyright © 2006-2016 GateHouse Media, Inc. Some Rights Reserved. 12/17/2016
December 18, 2016 6:33 pm (GMT +5:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
Copy Reduced to 83% from original to fit letter page
D
ave Anderson’s life journey began in 1961
in Cadillac when he was born to Red, a
World War II veteran, and Ruth, a stay-
at-home mother.
TThe beginning
Anderson said Ruth was a “great mother” to
he and his siblings.
“I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Sav-
ior (at 18 years old) at my mother’s funeral, and I
suppose that one event opened up my mind to
what I had growing up and never thought it was
very important.” Anderson said. “Things like love,
a safe place to live, plenty to
eat, not rich in money but
rich in a family, filled in sto-
ries, heritage, history, good
work ethic, your word is
your bond, the Golden rule
and how you treat others re-
ally matters.”
Family
On Dec. 8, 1979, while at
his lifelong church —
Lutheran Church — Ander-
son met a young woman vis-
iting with her aunt and
uncle.
That young woman,
Cheryl Cooper, would be-
come his wife on July 10, 1982.
“I was smitten (with her) on the spot,” Anderson
said.
Together, the Anderson’s have two sons —
Joshua, 30, is married to Shannon, and they have a
daughter, and son Andy, 29, is married to Allie,
and they have two sons.
Education
“I tell people that ‘we’ started college in 1988 be-
cause our boys were babies and we’d been married
6 years,
so it took
all hands on
deck,” Ander-
son said. “Cheri
worked two jobs to put
me through school. We all
grew up in one way or another
during those four years.”
After attending Judson University in Elgin, Illi-
nois, Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
youth leadership; church/para church.
His calling
Anderson began his life’s work in youth ministry
in 1980. Throughout his calling, he has served as a
Sunday school teacher, chaperone church trustee, a
camp staff member, staff member at Judson Uni-
versity, and a youth minister at two churches over
an 18-year period.
“I feel that God has led me to combine issues of
faith and life at the heart of everything I do in our
ministry,” Anderson said.
“I feel
that God
has led me
to combine
issues of
faith and
life at the
heart of
everything
I do in our
ministry.”
— Dave
Anderson
By Christy Hart-Harris |
charris@thedailyreporter.com
Answering the call
to ministry
NEIGHBOR OF THE MONTH
Dave
Anderson