David graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1986 with a degree in finance. He worked in the investment industry, eventually becoming senior vice president and part owner of Oaktree Trust Company in Nebraska.  In 1996 he moved to Florida where he worked as a vice president and managing director with an institutional investment management service until 2006. David grew up in the Methodist church, but joined the Presbyterian Church when he and Stacey got married.  He became an elder at Mandarin Presbyterian Church and also became involved in a number of other ministries working with Promise Keepers and other ministries within the church, including in-depth, weekly men’s Bible study, monthly couples Bible studies, Bethel Bible Study, and production of a contemporary worship service called Mars Hill. David eventually felt God’s Call to the ministry.  After years of consideration, he entered Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s new campus in Jacksonville as part of their first class. He graduated from Gordon-Conwell earlier this year.  For the past three years David has interned at Orange Park Presbyterian Church in Orange Park, Florida.  He currently has the title of Parish Visitor there, but has performed all the duties of an associate pastor, including regular preaching, hospital and home visitation, and involvement in all worship services, weddings, and funerals.  David led the church’s mission trip to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. David is married to Stacey, who he met at college.  They have three children.   Meagan is a graduate of the University of Florida, earning her Masters degree in International Business and is working for Kraft.  Ian is a freshman at the University of Central Florida.  Nicholas is entering his sophomore year in high school.

David and his wife Shelly moved to the area in 2003 with their two daughters Penelope and Sophia. Thinking he was headed towards teaching English, in 2005 Jesus as the Way led David in a surprising direction, this position. Since then, Jesus as Truth and Life, has continued to bless David and his family through this church. Now a family of six, with the addition of Jack and Tom, David has a strong desire for family based youth ministry, and has a growing passion for the reconciling work of Christ within the individual and outward into the community through the power and grace of God's Holy Spirit.

Jeff Savage has been playing the guitar since he was 14 years old and has been leading Christian worship for19 years. He has led the music of our evening worship here in Sylva since September 2001 and also occasionally adds special music to our morning service. We love hearing him play and sing praises to the Lord. Recently he has begun making guitars. He lives in Cullowhee with his wife Donna. He has three children and two grandchildren.

Grace is a native of New York City and came to NC by way of Illinois where she and Jay had raised four children.  She has served as volunteer and secretary for about 18 years at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, IL, as well as worked part-time as an RN for 12 years.  After “retiring” to NC she has again worked part-time in nursing for 4 years, been secretary at the Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University for nine years and volunteered and worked part-time at First Presbyterian Church of Sylva since 1989.