Lead Pastor (Interim)
Dave Gudgel  
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As a staff member of our Northern California and Nevada Venture Church Network, Dave’s primary focus is on helping our VCN pastors, leaders, and churches excel in their ministry callings. In addition to serving in occasional Interim Pastor roles, preaching on Sundays, or speaking at retreats and conferences, Dave primarily comes alongside churches, Lead Pastors, and their leadership teams in various support, mentoring, training, and transitional roles. Born and raised in California, Dave Gudgel has called Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Agoura Hills, Phoenix, Mountain View, and now Merced “home.”

In 2021, Dave stepped down from his Lead Pastor role at Bridges Community Church in Los Altos, CA, after shepherding that congregation for eleven years. Dave’s 40 years of Lead Pastor ministry began at Agoura Bible Fellowship, a church in the northwest Los Angeles area, where he pastored for twenty-two years. Then Dave became the Senior Pastor of Bethany Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ for seven years. Over the past thirty-five-plus years, Dave has also taught seminars for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries. Dave earned a B.A. degree in Sociology from Westmont College, a Master of Divinity from Talbot Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Western Seminary. As an author, Dave has written a number of books, including Before You Live Together, Before You Get Engaged, Before You Leave Home, Enjoy Your Marriage More, and Bible StoryBoards.

Dave loves to play golf and to travel. His favorite book is The Master Plan of Evangelism. He and his wife Bernice are in their forty-eighth year of marriage. God has blessed them with two sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, and eleven precious grandchildren. Their entire family now lives within five minutes of each other and can often be found at the Gudgel Homestead along with their goats, chickens, dogs, cats, bunnies, flower farm, and Dave and Bernice’s Barn.

Employment Opportunities

Click here to learn of our current employment opportunities, please review the list of openings available on our Employment page.

Feel free to contact admin@fbcmonterey.org with any questions.