Dr. Dave and Debbie Sanders Married for over 40 years, we met in college while involved with Campus Crusade.  Journeying together into the unknown of Army life immediately after graduation, we soon found ourselves stationed internationally in Germany with Dave serving as an army helicopter pilot. We traveled all around Europe (including the former Eastern bloc), the Mediterranean and Turkey while growing in our own discipleship through OCF and Young Life.  As volunteers, we were part of the founding of Club Beyond / MCYM. Being challenged by an older Young Life couple, we exited the army, and entered seminary at Fuller in Pasadena, CA.  While in the YL ministry training program, Dave graduated with a M.Div. from Fuller Seminary, and Debbie completed her BA degree from Cal State LA.  Dave’s first full time role with Young Life was in Gwinnett Co., GA, to launch and establish the new area in one of the fastest growing US counties.  It is here that Dave became ordained by the ECA and maintains good standing to this day. In 1989, the Sanders family grasped the opportunity to relocate to Europe to serve with Club Beyond by opening Naval Air Station Sigonella’s Club Beyond teen ministry at the small base in Sicily.  From those formative and creative years of building MCYM in the Mediterranean with the Navy, we were asked to move to Germany to serve as the European Director for MCYM.  Dave served in this role from 1993 – 2004 while Debbie homeschooled their daughters, served with the women’s ministry (PWOC), worked part time for YL supporting HR matters for the YL staff, and aided MCYM Europe with conferences and events.  This environment provided the context for eleven years of teaching, training, hosting and leading staff members and families as well as investing in small groups, chapel ministries and other international ministries. In 2004, Dave completed his DMin from Fuller and accepted a position with Judson University in Elgin, IL, as a professor in the Christian Ministries Department. Debbie has been investing in women’s ministry at our local church and completing her Master of Leadership in Ministry degree. Having ministered within the Young Life context for nearly 35 years, we recently decided to join the Paraclete team in order to more fully explore ministry opportunities the Lord has placed before us. Dave & Debbie’s Giftedness, Passions and current Ministry Focus:

• Mentoring/discipling/spiritual formation/spiritual disciplines
• Small groups/community groups
• Hospitality
• Marriage counseling and weddings
• Teaching/training in areas to include:
  • Intergenerational studies Millennials and Screeners (Homelanders);
  • Mentoring/discipleship;
  • Spiritual formation;
  • Practical theology;
  • Adolescent studies;
  • Generational leadership;
  • Missions and short-term mission projects;
  • Spiritual pilgrimage to Israel (biblical/historical & personal enrichment)