Christian Charity - Cindy Rose Fisher

Chaplain of Personal Enrichment

Introduction and Welcome to our newest Chaplain

Dave was born in Renton and grew up in Normandy Park as a member of John Knox Presbyterian Church. He graduated from the Christian Academy High School in Japan after living in Tokyo for two years. He later graduated from SPU, San Francisco Theological Seminary and most recently Drew School of Theology. His Certification includes Pastoral Crisis Intervention, Clergy Leadership: Going Deeper Program of Shalem Institute Bethesda, MD, and Interim Ministry through the Interim Ministry Network program and has served in churches rural, inner city, suburban, and retirement communities. He has also served as Pastor, Interim Minister, Assistant Pastor, Head of Staff, Youth Minister and Hunger Action Enabler.

Dave moved back to the Pacific Northwest after a thirty year absence and loves the coffee, not the traffic, loves the mountains and water and feels right at home again. We are so blessed to have him on staff to meet the needs of those we serve.

"I am here to see what God has in store today. It should be fun, will be interesting and I trust will be helpful to others and deepening personally. And I am absolutely certain that God is doing a new thing with us, in us, for us, through us and by us."

Dave's role at Bridge includes pastoral care with persons with disabilities, their families, caregivers and volunteers; coordination of the Circles of Friends Program; information and referral assistance to social services; coordination of peer support groups for the persons we serve. He will also be preparing retreats and meetings for the persons we serve.

“The here and now….”
Dave Emery
Chaplain

We don’t ask for what happens to us or around us to happen. Life’s situations are often, if not in reality always out of our venue of influence. People come and go in our lives. Our bodies work in some ways not in others. Our minds comprehend some things and have no clue about other things. Our souls are searching in some ways, and are immensely grateful and hopeful in others.

It is such a pleasure and joy to be here at Bridge Ministries. I have been in prayer for some time seeking to find where God might want to give me the opportunity and place to share in spiritual formation with others. This may very well be an answer to those prayers.

I have only been here a week and I have had such an amazing time already. Meeting and getting acquainted with new environments, new people, new places and new opportunities for ministry is a familiar experience in my life. I have served in numerous ministry positions from very part time Hunger Action Enabler to full time installed pastorate and head of staff for nine years.

There are things common in each of these places of ministry and things unique to each one as well. The common experience was that God is the same God then now and forever. This is so cool.

In all of these places there were people in the midst of everyday mundane familiar patterns that cried out for God’s presence. There were also those in heightened emotional, physical, spiritual distress crying out for God’s presence and love. This experience of life seems to be similar regardless of gender, age, physical, or any other arbitrary distinguishing personal factors. There are certain things we hold in common, and one of those is undeniably our connection and formation in, by, and through God.

There are also places of unique God given distinctions and possibilities. I am eager to discover these at Bridge as I have in Napa, CA; Penrose, CO; North Haledon, NJ; Ringoes, NJ; Clifton, NJ; Lakehurst, NJ; and most recently Trenton, NJ. These are exciting days to live, and these are exciting times to be in ministry together.

May God’s abundant blessings fill us all!