Tribute to Founding Pastor
David D. Vasquez, Founding Pastor
My husband was a simple man, a man who loved God with all his heart. A man with a heart of gold. It was at the age of eighteen while watching TBN, the Christian television program, that Pastor David’s had his first encounter with the Lord. He was searching for a different way of life.
David continued to search. His heart was hungry for the things of God but couldn't tap into the liberty that he would later come to know. Through many trials in his life he read the bible and continued to seek God. Not knowing many Christians, he participated in many different retreats to get direction for his now family of four and his wife. He encountered many disappointments in his life but never lost hope that one day his life would be changed.
In 1984 things were spirally down for the family, until one day he surrendered his life totally to the Lord. With the fear of losing his wife and children, David surrendered it all to the Lord and from that moment on he would serve God to the fullest no matter what the cost.
David took his family to a spirit-filled church in Glendale, Word of Life Family Church with Pastors Dennis & Gwen Norman. The preaching of the word ignited David’s zeal to serve God. He did everything he could to be used in the church. He later became the youth pastor and taught the teens about soul winning, taking them to different orphanages and villages in Mexico. He was faithful to every area of ministry he volunteered in; every bible study, marriage classes or all night prayer. He was there.
Several years later he felt in his heart to go to bible school and get into the ministry to better help people through the teachings of the bible. One of the things that he desired the most was to help restore marriages that had been affected through chemical dependency.
David was experiencing a new way of living. As a new man in Christ, he understood that he had been translated out of darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ. His zeal to preach the gospel became greater and he applied to attend RHEMA BIBLE TRAINING CENTER in Tulsa, Oklahoma. David had a heart to go to the mission field in Peru. He literally wanted to go into all the world to preach the gospel. He was determined to reach the lost. There were no family ties that could hold him back from pursuing the great commission. There were many who didn’t understand his urgency to move the family over a thousand miles away, since no one ever left the barrio. But David always spoke these words to them, “It doesn’t always feel good to do the right thing.” Even to the end it was one of his faithful sayings.
He went before his family to prepare a place where they would meet up a few weeks later. His excitement to go to bible school kept escalating. He was so proud to be a student of the word. David had never been much of a writer, but his notebooks were filled with almost every word that was being taught. He grew from faith to faith and glory to glory.
I can remember the first time he sat in class where Brother Hagin was the instructor. His had a readiness to get a hold of the faith teachings that would not only help his family, but also the world. He had no limits as to where he would go to teach and preach.
After graduating in 1991, he received direction to go back to his hometown in Glendale, Arizona. He spoke these words, “I have need to go to the mission field of my neighborhood.” He went back with a great passion to bring the good news to his family, friends and to those who had no knowledge of God’s word. His heart was leading him to pastor a church in the barrio.
Only one month after arriving back from Oklahoma, Pastor David began bible studies in the home of John and Ruby Padilla, a young couple hungry for God. The Padilla’s are still serving, faithfully as Associate Pastors at “In Him” Community Church. He named the church Living Well Bible Church where people would come to learn how to live well through the Word of God. As years went by he changed the name to In Him Outreach Church where people would be taught who they were in Christ preparing the people to reach out to the lost. After starting the church he established a Men’s Restoration Home (Now called "The House of David" in His honor) for those who are chemically dependent. His desire to help those who are now in the same condition he was at one point has brought restoration to many individuals and has brought many families back together.
If you knew Pastor David, he always took you to another level and I guess that is why he changed the name several times. Now the church name is “IN HIM” Community Church Glendale and Winslow, Arizona. Pastor David prepared a group of people that would be ready to take on the great commission to teach and preach the word of faith to their city. No longer to be bound by the power of sin and death, but to be free to reach out to a lost and dying world. Pastor David paved the way for his family and congregation. He was not a selfish man, but one that would give it all for others to succeed.
A simple man with a great passion to reach the lost, befriending them with his gentleness, his sense of humor, his smile and his love for the Lord. He gave his all while he walked this earth. There was nothing that would ever hinder his trust in Him and that is the word he preached. Pastor David was a man of understanding and great wisdom. Yes this simple man that was raised in the barrio of Glendale. He operated and trusted in the greater one that lived within him. There was never anything to big that Pastor David could not believe God for. He put his life in God’s care 20 years ago and never let go.
The time has come that we who loved him must let go, but we will continue with the legacy of love that he so greatly showed. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend and Pastor, He taught us things that we would have never known had he not ever sown his own life to take us to a better life. As you enter the gates of heaven great is your reward. Well done thou good and faithful servant.
It has been with great honor and respect to have served a man of such quality for the past thirty-one years. You will be greatly missed. Pastor David, my husband a simple man!
Nancy Vasquez
Special Thanks To:
“IN HIM” Church
Kenneth Hagin Ministries
Rhema Ministerial Association International
Azusa World Ministries
Manuel & Joyce Hernandez
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