Dave Livermore

Dave is the Executive Director of the Global Learning Center at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, where he also teaches Intercultural Studies. In addition, Dave is the Co-Founder of Intersect, a ministry that provides leadership training and consulting to emerging leaders in ministries around the world.

Dave has a heart for the globe and has had the opportunity to serve with national leaders in over 60 countries. Dave has published widely on youth ministry, missions, education, and issues related to contextualization and culture. Dave loves to take deep theological truth and make it profoundly relevant to students and leaders. He keeps a regular speaking schedule of preaching at conferences and churches. His research interests are focused most upon issues of contextualization including the implications of contextualizing the gospel in cross-cultural contexts, in youth ministry, and in emergent expressions of the Church.

Dave completed his Ph.D. at Michigan State University where his research focused upon the connection between learning and culture. He has Masters degrees from State University of New York at Brockport (in communication) and from GRTS (in Systematic Theology). His Baccalaureate degrees in Education and Communication are from Calvin College and Cornerstone University. 

Dave and his wife Linda live in Grand Rapids, Michigan along with their two daughters Emily and Grace. Some of their favorite family activities include traveling, biking, reading, eating Asian food, and walking to the local ice cream shop-Jersey Junction!

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PRESENT POSITION

Executive Director, Global Learning Center
Assistant Professor, Intercultural Studies
Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary

 Co-Founder
Intersect

HIGHER EDUCATION

1995-2001  Ph.D. in Education
Michigan State University. East Lansing, Michigan
Educational Administration/Adult Learning
Emphasis:  International Educational Leadership

1992-1994  M.T.S. in Systematic Theology
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Grand Rapids, Michigan

1989-1992  M.A. in Communication
State University of New York. Brockport, New York
Social Movements Emphasis

1987-1989  B.S. in Education
Calvin College. Grand Rapids, Michigan

1985-1989  B.A. in Speech
Cornerstone University. Grand Rapids, Michigan

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

1999-2003 International Director.
 Sonlife Ministries. Elburn, Illinois.

• Jointly lead Sonlife Ministries, a non-profit leadership development organization which conducts training and consulting in more than 72 countries.
• Traveled to more than 50 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe to facilitate leadership development initiatives.
• Wrote training manuals and lead international training and consulting team.
• Developed and maintained organizational partnerships with denominations, missions agencies, universities, and indigenous entities cross-culturally.
• Spoke at national and international conferences.
  
  

1994-1999 Associate Pastor of Youth and Global Outreach.
 Calvary Church. Fruitport, Michigan.

• Provided oversight to youth and international programs as well as regular schedule of preaching, teaching, training overseas, and other pastoral duties.
• Initiated International Church Partnerships in Mexico and Thailand.
  
  

1992-1994  Youth Ministry Coordinator.
Cornerstone University. Grand Rapids, Michigan.

• Part-time teaching load including communications and youth courses.
• Coordinated the university’s youth development connections.
  
  

1989-1992  Minister of Youth.
Grace Baptist Church. Brockport, New York.

• Provided oversight to youth and family ministries.

PUBLICATIONS

2006

Livermore, D. (2006). Serving with Eyes Wide Open: Doing short-term missions with cultural intelligence. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

D. Livermore  & S. Argue. (2006, July/August) “Beverly Hills, That's Where I Want to Be.” Group 32 (5).

D. Livermore, & S. Argue.  (2006, May/June) “Summer-time Blues.” Group 32 (4).

Livermore, D. (Winter 2006). “EMS…You just might be more emergent than you think.” Occasional Bulletin 18 (3), 1-5.

Livermore, D. & S. Argue (2006, March/April) “The Longest, Deepest Time of Year for Youth Ministry.” Group 32 (3).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2006, January/February) “New Year’s Resolution: Be Amazingly Average.” Group 32, (2).

2005

Livermore, D. (2005). “Global Access Partnerships: One Church’s Story—Part Two.” Message 53 (1).

Livermore, D. (2005). “Identity Crisis of the Youth Worker”. Youthworker Journal 22 (1), 60-61.

Livermore, D. (2005). “Ministering to Non-Christian Parents” in Plugging in Parents. Loveland, CO: Group, 131-33.
Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2005). 5 of 8 chapters in Youth Ministry in the 21^st Century. Loveland, CO: Group.

Livermore, D. & Argue S. (2005). Explore2: Shema, Creed, Formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Intersect.

Livermore, D. & Argue S. (2005). Explore1: Shepherd Through Following. Grand Rapids, MI: Intersect.

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2005). “Youth Ministry by the Num83r5.” Group 32, (1), 32.

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2005). “Don’t Go Solo in your Self-Improvement.” Group 31, (6).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2005). “An Appeal for In-Your-Face Evangelism.” Group 31, (5).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2005). “Focus through the Family.” Group 31, (4).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2005). “Taking Storytime to the Mat.” Group 31, (3).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2005). “Taking Youth out of Youth Ministry.” Group 31, (2).

2004

Livermore, D. (2004). “American or American’t: A Critical Analysis of Western Training Practices.” Evangelical Missions Quarterly 40 (4), 458-66.

Livermore, D. & Argue S. (2004). Encounter. Connecting Ourselves with the Person, Life and Ministry of Christ. Elburn, IL: Sonlife.

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2004). “No Shirt, No Service?” Group 31, (1).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2004). “Ecclesia, Semper Reformanda.” Group 30, (6).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2004). “Modification, Formation, Reformation.” Group 30, (5).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2004). “Following Leaders.” Group 30, (4).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2004). “The Follower’s Prayer.” Group 30, (3).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2004). “Reclaiming the ‘Fellowship’ Hall.” Group 30, (2).

2003

Livermore, D. & S. Argue. (2003). 24-7 Link. Streamwood, IL: AWANA.

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2003). “New and Improved?” Group 30, (1).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2003). “We the People.” Group 29, (6).

Livermore, D. & S. Argue (2003). “Ready to Go Bible Studies: Peter.” Group 29, (6).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2003). “Hey Youth Group! This is my Body.” Group 29, (5).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2003). “MTV, PS2, Thai, German, Jesus.” Group 29, (4).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2003). “What if?” Group 29, (3).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2003). “The Heart of the Matter.” Group 29, (2).

2002

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2002). “Jesus, Is, Therefore I Think.” Group 29, (1).

Livermore, D & S. Argue. (2002). “Jesus Call to Follow, Not Copy.” Group 28, (6).

Livermore, D. (2002). “The Youth Ministry Education Debate: Irrelevant Theorists vs. Mindless Practitioners”. Journal of Youth Ministry.

2001

Livermore, D. (2001). “Billions to be Won!: Going after the largest mission field in the world--Youth!” Evangelical Missions Quarterly: Fall.

Livermore, D. (2001). Connecting Your Journey with the Story of God. Disciplemaking in Diverse Contexts. Elburn, IL: Sonlife.

Livermore, D. (2001). Disciplemaking in Diverse Contexts: Global Fieldbook. Elburn, IL: Sonlife.

Livermore, D. (2001). The Emperor’s New Clothes: Experiences of Stateside Church Leaders who Train Cross-Culturally. Dissertation. Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Dissertation Services.

1997

Livermore, D. (1997). “Live to Tell: Prioritizing the 10/40 Window.” Message 44 (1).

1996

Livermore, D. (1996). “International Youth Ministry.” Evangelical Missions Quarterly 32 (1).

1994

Livermore, D. (1994). Is Youth Ministry Biblical. Thesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

1992

Livermore, D. (1992). Mesmerized by MTV: MTV as a Social Movement in the 80’s. Thesis. Brockport, NY: SUNY Press (out of print).

PRESENTATIONS

• Speak 25-30 times annually at national and international conferences, symposia, churches, etc.

• Presenter for Group Magazine Live, national workshop for youth workers

• Regular Speaker/Presenter at National Youth Workers Conventions, Youth Specialities

• Present 3-5 times a year at academic/research-based conferences (e.g. Association of Youth Minsitry Educators, Evangelical Missions Society, and the Baylor Institute for Faith and Learning)

• Adjunct Professor role at various institutions including Bethel College, Biblical Seminary, Cornerstone University, Judson College, Moody Bible Institute, and Northern Baptist Seminary.

PROFESSIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND AFFILIATIONS

ASM (American Society of Missiology)

AYME (Association of Youth Ministry Educators)

CFIA (Council on Faith and International Affairs)

GYI (Global Youth Initiative)
Chair and/or member of the Leadership Team since 1998

IASYM (International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry)

NNYM (National Network of Youth Ministries)

Ordained Minister of the Gospel, September 1997.
Calvary Church, Fruitport, Michigan.

Contact Dave