Pastors

Bruce Bumgardner has served as the pastor of Pine Valley Bible Church since its inception in the fall of 1994. Bruce is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) and in addition to ministering at Pine Valley has spoken at pastors' conferences and seminaries in many countries around the world including Brazil, Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe, Poland, Nigeria, the Philippines, Ukraine and England, as well as the United States. He and his wife Cyndy were married in 1984 and have three adult children, Marcia, Bruce Jr, and David.  They have one grandchild, Brett.

“I had the tremendous advantage of growing up in a Christian home with two wonderful parents who loved me and taught me the Word of God from a very young age. I placed my faith in Jesus Christ in a Sunday School class at Grace Bible Church in Dallas Texas when I was seven years old. I do not know the dear lady’s name who presented me the gospel on that flannel board that day, but I am extremely grateful for her faithfulness in doing what she was called to do. Since that time I have always had an intense appreciation for those who work with our kids. They play such an important role in the Body of Christ.

In September 1994 I had dinner with a long time friend, Don Tippit, and he suggested that we consider planting a church in Deer Park, a suburb of Houston. Neither of us knew much about church planting but we both felt led to follow through with the idea, so we held our first service a couple of months later with two other families in a small office space which was donated to us by a man I did not know and to this day have never met. From the beginning, the grace of God was at work in this ministry.

Over the years I have developed a pretty simple philosophy of ministry. I deeply desire to see people trust Christ as their savior and then grow to maturity in their Christian faith. I believe that this is accomplished by providing consistent, accurate Biblical teaching while at the same time encouraging the application of what is taught to our lives. Paul said that the end goal of all he taught was love. At Pine Valley we strive to know God better and as a result love Him and one another more deeply. Like I said, it’s a pretty simple philosophy.”

The statistics are alarming concerning the number of young, evangelical Christians who enter college and start to abandon core principles of their faith beginning their freshman year. Dan’s passion and devotion at Pine Valley are directed at addressing this trend, with the goal of keeping our high school/college students committed to the truths of the Christian faith, as they grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Dan grew up in a religious home, but without a saving connection to the Lord Jesus. That changed in 1990, when a friend introduced him to the Christ of the Gospels, and his life has never been the same. Shortly thereafter, Dan relocated to Texas from the midwest through a clear work of providence. He married his wife, Jennie, in 1996 and both have kept a minimum of two dogs in their lives ever since.

At the encouragement of a friend, Dan enrolled in the College of Biblical Studies in 2005 and will be completing his Bachelor’s of Science in Christian Leadership in December 2011. He plans on attending Dallas Theological Seminary for his graduate studies with the goal of earning his Th.M. in Old Testament studies.

In addition to working with Pine Valley’s high school and college students, Dan is the acting Director of Student Ministries and oversees the Sunday school program at the church. On occasion, he will also deliver the sermon on any given Sunday morning, at the request of Pastor Bruce.

Dan sees evangelism and discipleship-making as God’s calling for the Church. Within this dynamic, Dan is committed to investing himself in others, in the name of Jesus, for the glory of God.

And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man 
and teaching every man with all wisdom,
that we may present every man complete in Christ. 
And for this purpose also I labor,
striving according to His power, which mightily works in me.

~ Colossians 1:28, 29