Pastor Dave was born in Des Moines, Iowa and lived all of his life in the Des Moines area until 1999. He was saved as a child and grew up at Grandview Park Baptist Church. The youth group he was a part of during high school was very active and spiritually strong - many from this youth group entered full-time ministry. He attended Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, where he graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He became an Associate Pastor at Airport Baptist Church in Des Moines. In 1979 the Senior Pastor at Airport resigned and Pastor Dave became the Senior Pastor, a position he held until 1989. He and his wife, Kathy, moved to Cherry Hill in 1999 after having served on the staff of Grandview Park Baptist in Des Moines in the areas of music/worship, adult Sunday School, and Home Bible Study ministries. In late 2003, Pastor Dave and Kathy moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where he served for one year as Co-Pastor of Kossuth Street Baptist Church. On June 6, 2004 the Cortners accepted the call to return to Bethel as Co-Senior Pastor. Pastor Cortner was installed as Senior Pastor on Sunday, 7 November, 2004.

Pastor Dave has a Masters of Arts in Ministry degree from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He loves music and loves to teach and preach the Word.

Pastor Dave and Kathy enjoy fast walking, the mountains, and their family. They have three adult children. Their oldest daughter Angela, is married to a medical doctor in St. Mary's, Ohio. Their second daughter, Heidi is married to a pastor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and their son Brady and his wife live in Brighton, Michigan where he is also a youth pastor. Their grandchildren are a real joy to the whole family.

Jason George is the newest addition to Bethel's pastoral staff. A 1997 graduate of Liberty University, Jason served for seven years as Minister to Students at Forest Park Baptist Church in Waldorf, Maryland. Jason has also served as Camp Counselor and Head Counselor at Camp Wabanna, Spiritual Life Director and Resident Assistant at Liberty University, and is an accomplished and sought-after youth speaker.

Pastor Jason brings a highly desirable combination of an endearing yet authoritative preaching style, a heart for youth, and a unique ability to relate both to young people and their parents as well.

Pastor Jason and his wife Stephanie are the parents of three young children, Autumn (8) and Noah (5), and Gabrielle (2).