REVEREND DAVE BRATTON
Assistant Pastor, Associate Pastor: Equipping and Adult Ministries
Dave and Donalyn Bratton, who have been married almost 35 years, are both originally from Illinois.
Dave trusted Christ as his Savior at a Campus Crusade evangelistic meeting held in his fraternity at the University of Illinois in April of 1967. At the end of that month, Donalyn made that same decision at a similar meeting in her sorority at Illinois Wesleyan University. Four months later they met in CA at a Campus Crusade collegiate leadership training conference. They were married one year later and, upon Donalyn's graduation in 1970 (and one year of graduate studies for Dave at Illinois State University), they joined the staff of Campus Crusade.
For the past 33 years Dave and Donalyn have invested their lives in making disciples in order to help fulfill the Great commission. They have worked with a variety of people in various settings, including college students at Eau Claire, WI, (1970-75) and Dallas, TX (1975-77, 78-80 while Dave attended Dallas Theological Seminary.). In the summer of 1977 they took their sons, David and Doug, to communist controlled Poland to spend the summer working with young people. That assignment was extended through the spring of 1978 when Dave was asked to remain and teach Catholic priests evangelism, discipleship and Bible study methods.
Upon receiving his ThM from Dallas Seminary in 1980 Dave transferred from campus ministry to Athletes in Action and was assigned to work with professional sports teams in the NY metropolitan area. For 16 years he served as chaplain or chapel coordinator for 6 different professional teams including the Giants, Yankees, Nets and Devils. Donalyn discipled the wives of the athletes.
During this time they were active members of Bethlehem Church. In 1982 Dave was ordained at Bethlehem and as his schedule allowed he taught adult education classes, worked with men's discipleship ministry and evangelism explosion. He also occasionally provided pulpit supply when the pastor was on vacation or ill and shared that responsibility with 3 other men during the search for Pastor Ken. Donalyn was an active member of the choir and the women's ministry.
For the past 7 years Dave and Donalyn have lived and worked in OH at AIA's national headquarters. Donalyn has served as Office Manager and Women's Ministry Coordinator. Dave, in addition to helping oversee the national Pro Ministry, has helped build a ministry to NFL coaches, scouts and front office personnel.
Their sons, now both married, live in NJ.
On July 13, 2003, Bethlehem Church called Dave as Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries. He and Donalyn joined us in September of that year. Dave currently heads Adult Education, Men's Discipleship Ministries, and Small Group Ministries.
Contact Rev. Dave.
