DAVE MANUEL
Director of Student Ministry
FAVORITE BOOK(S):
This seems like a trick question... The Bible!
Some favorite staples I love going back to are Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, The Listening Life by Adam McHugh, or Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
FAVORITE MOVIE(S):
The Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit) series… Especially when there’s a day to watch them all at once! I could also watch Pirates of the Caribbean or (most) Marvel movies over and over again—however, some of the newer Marvel movies are too dark for me to enjoy. I also really enjoy classic musicals such as The Music Man, Singing in the Rain, or my favorite, The Sound of Music.
LAST MEAL ON EARTH:
A "California" or "Pipeline" burrito from Taco Surf.
SONG THAT GETS YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR:
“Conga” by Gloria Estefan.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.”
— Dallas Willard
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB:
There is nothing better than seeing students personally grow into their own faith in Christ. Eating pizza on the job is a nice perk…
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT DAVE:
Dave joins Grace Seal Beach with four years of experience in student ministry. After becoming a Christian in high school, he served in the U.S. Navy as a SWCC small boat captain for six years, with deployments to the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia. He earned a B.A. (Leadership Studies & Christian Ministry) from Regent University and an M.A. (Spiritual Formation & Soul Care) from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. For the past three years, Dave has also served as a Staff Spiritual Director at Biola University.
He is married to his wife, Kate, and they have a baby boy named Benjamin. In his free time, Dave enjoys going on family walks, reading, running, and paddleboarding.