Pastor Dave Engebretsen Gone to Be with the Lord

Seattle-area FCA pastor David Engebretsen has gone to be with the Lord. David, who served Colonial Bible Church in Federal Way, Washington, for 22 years, passed away on Sunday, October 11, 2009.

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, at New Horizon Christian Center, 5600 Valley Ave. E. in Fife, Washington, beginning at 11 a.m.

David, a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific for nearly three years, was married to Doris. The young couple began holding a Bible study in their Seattle home, and Pastor Roy Johnson was their teacher. Eventually David did theological study at Seattle Bible College and became youth pastor at Philadelphia Church. Then came the opportunity in Federal Way. In their retirement, they started a seasonal church in Yuma, Ariz.

Doris Engebretsen passed away approximately six years ago. A year later, David married Shirley. Condolences may be sent to her at 4248 A St. SE, #507, Auburn, WA 98002; e-mails will be passed along through David’s brother-in-law, Art Sather (artsather@msn.com).

From Ron DeVore (Uganda):

I was raised under Pastor Dave Engebretsen from September of 1966 until his retirement many years later. During that time I was his youth pastor, then became his fulltime associate pastor as well as during this total time frame I served on the church board and as an elder in the later years.

He was the only person I ever visualized as my father in the Lord.
Under his tutelage I grew and learned so very many truths which years later would prepare me for a life of world missions.

His outlook on the place others have in our daily walk caused me to see others in a different way regarding the role they might take in my life. His incredible love for others and his unusual tolerance of the way others might see things differently then he or I might taught me to love and reach out for a better understanding with others who might hold a different opinion than mine.

Today I am very involved with world missions and certainly it was his patience and loving tolerance which taught me the value of interacting with fellow missionaries and prepared me for a life of success in world missions. Together with my wife, Shirley, we celebrate his life as we remember those days but deep in our hearts we shall always remember Pastor Dave Engebretsen and realize although heaven has gained a precious and valued person we will keenly feel the loss of one of the best friends we have ever had on earth.