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, November 7, 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 are grateful for and enjoy their family! They have three adult children. Their oldest daughter, Angela, is married to a medical doctor in Ohio. Their second daughter, Heidi, is married to a pastor in Michigan.  Their son, Brady, recenly joined us at Bethel as the associate pastor of Youth.  Pastor Dave and Kathy have 8 grandchildren who are a joy and delight to their whole family.

Check out Pastor Dave's blog at www.pastordavecortner.com.