Rev. Dr. David A. George
(1949-2015)
Rev. Dr. David A. George (1949-2015) was a pastor and church planter whose work and ministry spanned over four decades. He was known as a “pastor to pastors” because of his passion for the work of developing healthy church congregations and his unusual skill in shepherding and encouraging ministers in their vocations. Dr. George was devoted to God, delighted in his family, and genuinely cared for people. He loved the global church and deeply appreciated classical music, architecture and the arts—all which permeated his sermons and ministry.
Dr. George founded Valley Springs Presbyterian Church in Roseville, CA, in 1989 with his wife, Jayne, and their four small children. With God’s blessing it grew into a community of people deeply committed to the life-changing message of the Gospel. Dr. George helped develop ministries across the Sacramento area to reach out to the homeless, marginalized youth, neighboring communities, singles, overseas missions and new church plants. Under his leadership, Valley Springs became know as “a church who helps people who don’t have a church.”
After 25 years of service at Valley Springs, Dr. George joined the pastoral staff at Christ Church East Bay in Oakland, CA. There he mentored pastors and staff and led a church planting residency and training program which is still active today. Dr. George quickly fell in love with the SF Bay area and the people and ministries at Christ Church before his work was cut short by his sudden death at the age 66 from a rare and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
Dr. George was born and raised in Pennsylvania and educated at Wooster College (B.A.), Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Golden Gate Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He previously served at Bethel Church in Oostburg, WI, and New Hope Church in Green Bay, WI. Over the course of his career, Dr. George was a professor at William Jessup University and served the broader church by leading numerous committees in multiple denominations, with a focus on pastoral reconciliation and church planting.
He most often ended a worship service with the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.