David Petty

Sitting in a courtroom lobby awaiting a judge’s decision on placement in the juvenile detention system for the State of Illinois I simply cried out to God for help. A humble beginning, but that day marked an abrupt change of direction for a troubled seventeen year old severely stricken with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and destined for a life in prison and likely an early death.

Later at nineteen while studying Computer Science at Northern Illinois University I felt an undeniable calling from God to serve Him in pastoral ministry, so I transferred to Open Bible College in Des Moines, Iowa where I received a B.A. in Bible and Theology in 1975 and was subsequently ordained. Staff pastor opportunities to serve churches in Dayton, Ohio and Tacoma, Washington, where I also received my MDiv degree from Northwest Baptist Seminary, followed.

In 1978 I returned to my hometown  of Rockford, Illinois with the dream of building a “Church For Misfits,” designed to meet the spiritual needs of people struggling with mental, emotional and physical disabilities. In Bible College I had become consumed with the thought that “There ought to be a church for people like me” so, as I worked at planting that church over a forty four year period, I also returned to Northern Illinois University where I received a PHD in Psychology in 1988.

In April of 2022 I officially retired, moving to my new home and life in Puerto Vallarta where I serve the Paradise Church as needed and hope to begin work soon on a podcast and a book.