Pastor David Welch

Pastor Emeritus

Pastor David and Geniene

Pastor David, feeling led to pass the mantle, retired December 31, 2018. He has been granted by the Elders the title Pastor Emeritus for his many years of service and love, and will be forever a part of this church family. David and Geniene’s ministry the past 30 years have been a treasure in our lives and we look forward to seeing what God will do through his life in retirement.

We thank you both for your faithful service to this church body, you are both truly loved and appreciated!

David’s Story

I was born in 1952, last of four boys. We grew up in Tacoma, Washington. Church life was a major part of our life from the very first. We were at one time all four pastoring churches. I began teaching Bible and Sunday School classes very early in life. Although I had no desire at that time to be a pastor, I was led to attend Bible School in Portland, Oregon where I grew more and more excited about learning and teaching the Word of God.

Following graduation from Bible School I married Geniene, the delight of my life and my high school sweetheart. We have been a ministry team from the beginning. God has blessed us with four children, and nine grandchildren.

After graduation from Mount Tahoma High School in 1970, I enrolled in Multnomah School of the Bible where I graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Theology Degree (BTh). Following Bible School I enrolled in Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon graduating in 1981 with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) Degree.

Geniene and I entered our first pastorate in the fall of 1980 just before graduation. We served the Bethany Bible Church outside of Hillsboro, Oregon from the fall of 1980 to July of 1989. Those were good years of learning and maturing in many ways. After reflection and prayer concerning new directions in ministry, we applied to become members of the Christian & Missionary Alliance family in April of 1989. Sensing God’s direction elsewhere, we resigned our ministry in Oregon, June of 1989 to become effective July 31. By August of 1989 we received a call to serve the wonderful family here at Chico where we still serve to this present day. I believe that God called me focus on the teaching of His Word as a primary focus of my ministry. I believe that solid Bible teaching is an essential foundation for any church. If we lay a good foundation of God’s truth, we will be balanced and avoid many of the pitfalls experienced by other ministries. Such an emphasis requires a great deal of time in the study. My focus through the years was working at equipping the saints to carry on the work of the ministry. I counted it a privilege to get to know you and pray many more will consider becoming a part of this wonderful family. – Pastor David