Reverend David Wm. Crapnell
Link to a recent Buffalo News Story - click to read
Pastor David's parents are both from the Midwest His mother is a retired surgical nurse and his father was a construction engineer for U. S. Steel. Because of his father's career the family frequently moved as David grew up. David spent many of his formative years in Pittsburgh. While he was in high school, the family moved to sunny Huntington Beach, California. He attended Humboldt State University in the breath-taking coastal redwoods of Northern California. David then began his career as a starving artist, gaining some recognition as a muralist, painting large scenes in various public places. He has tried his hand at a number of different art forms and earned a living as a graphic artist. Painting watercolors of North American birds is a hobby he still enjoys.
David grew up in the Presbyterian Church. During his teen years, like many teens, he fell away from the church. As a direct consequence of this he fell into some difficult and dark times. However, this was necessary for him to fully surrender to Christ Jesus and embrace Him as his Lord and Savior. After experiencing God's loving and saving grace, which include some miraculous encounters with God. He responded in gratitude and joyfully committed himself to Christ and his Church. As David says; "I not only came to understand that Jesus is '. . . The Way and The Truth and The Life . . .' but that his promises are true when Jesus says, 'anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing and he will do even greater things than these . . .'"(John 14:6&12).
After receiving God's call to ministry, David left California for Princeton, New Jersey. Reverend Crapnell studied at two of the oldest seminaries in America. He received his initial seminary training at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. While there, he served for two years as a chaplain at a local prison. He then followed his friend and mentor to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. It was during this time that he met his beautiful and talented wife Lisa. As Pastor David describes it, "…apart from Jesus Christ she is the greatest thing that ever happened to me."
In 2002 he began serving as pastor to the wonderful people in the towns of Thomas and Parsons, West Virginia, situated high in the picturesque Appalachian Mountains. However, he always knew that the Spirit was leading and preparing him for greater and more rewarding challenges in ministry.
In 2005 Pastor David responded to a call for a pastor and head of staff by Central Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio. It was here that many powerful ministries were started under Reverend Crapnell's leadership, including a contemporary worship service. These successes in ministry began with a focusing of energy on "preparing the saints for the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ" beginning with spiritual development through the Word and through prayer.
Apart from teaching and preaching and pastoring a church, Pastor David enjoys a number of other activities including: studying history, hiking, bird-watching, camping and fishing. He does recognize that being a fisher of men was the thing he was born to do.