Who Is
Dave Dummitt
Meet Eastside's Next Senior Pastor
Dave Dummitt
Dave Dummitt joins Eastside as our next Senior Pastor. He started 2|42 Community Church in his living room in Michigan, and under his leadership, 2|42 grew into one of the fastest-growing churches in the country, meeting each weekend across seven campuses. In 2020, Dave stepped into a pivotal role at Willow Creek Community Church, where his steady leadership and heart for unity helped guide the congregation through a critical season of change and brought much-needed stability to its future.
Ask anyone who’s worked alongside Dave, and you’ll hear the same thing: he loves people, he’s a builder of strong teams and a genuinely fun guy to be around — someone who takes the mission seriously without ever taking himself too seriously.
Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology from Wheaton College, where he met his wife, Rachel. Together they’re raising four kids: Grace, Luke, Joe, and Alex.
When Dave isn’t teaching, you’ll find him out on his Harley, on the water, at the gym, or with his feet up for a great movie. Besides getting rid of their snow shovels, Dave and Rachel are excited to explore SoCal and, of course, hunt down the best Mexican restaurants.
Dave officially joins the Eastside team on August 8.
times + locations
BELLFLOWER
17003 Clark Ave.
Bellflower, CA 90706
Saturday 4pm & 5:30pm
Sunday 9:30am & 11am
REDLANDS
1000 Roosevelt Rd.
Redlands, CA 92374
Sunday 9:30am + 11:00am
LAS VEGAS
2075 E. Warm Springs Rd.,
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Sunday 9:30am + 11:00am
Park Rapids
16623 State 87
Park Rapids, MN 56470
Sunday 8:30am + 10:00am + 11:30am
Watch a few of Dave's Recent Messages
Father's Day Message | June 21, 2026
The talk opens with a question most men never stop to ask: what is the real measure of a man? Not how much you can lift, how much you earn, or how many people you have impressed. Dave turns to a short, easy to miss passage where the early church leader Paul fires off five rapid commands to the young men he had poured his life into. One of them is the line that gives the message its edge: act like men. And before anyone checks out, Dave makes the case that this is not just for biological dads. Every person is shaping someone, whether it is a niece, a student, the younger coworker watching how you handle pressure, or the kid down the street whose father is not around.
Courage For Our Calling | May 17, 2026
If you are stepping into a new season and wondering whether you have what it takes to see it through, this message is for you. In this powerful first message at Eastside Christian Church, Pastor Dave Dummitt unpacks what it actually looks like to have courage for your calling.
By the end, you will have a framework for facing an uncertain future without being paralyzed by fear. From the moment Joshua took over from Moses, he faced the same pressure most of us face when life shifts: new responsibilities, high stakes, and no guarantee the future will go the way we planned. Drawing from Joshua 1, Dave walks through three practical invitations that gave Joshua the courage to lead — and that can do the same for you today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving as the Senior Pastor at Eastside is a unique role that requires a multi-faceted skillset. We believe in the power of teams and don’t expect a single individual to carry everything; however, for this role, below is the list of qualities that were assessed by our elder board for Eastside’s next Senior Pastor:
- Wise, Strategic Leader (bent towards those far from God)
- Powerful Preacher – Effective Communicator
- Character, Integrity, Financial Responsibility
- Humble Servant Leader
- Grown/built something strong in Ministry
- Healthy Spiritual Discipline
- Solid Doctrine and Theological Alignment with Eastside’s Statement of Faith
- Commitment to and Respect of the Restoration Movement
- Supportive Spouse
- Cultural Fit with Eastside and Eastside Christian Church’s High-Level Vision
- Will love Eastside more than the love of the Senior Pastor title
- Sense of Humor
We encourage and invite you to be praying for Gene & Barbara and Dave & Rachel as they go through these transitions together.
More specifically, you can pray for:
- Gene & Barbara:
- That they would see the impact they’ve made at Eastside and feel our gratitude.
- God’s blessing and guidance as they step into a new chapter.
- A smooth leadership transition and handoff.
- Dave and Rachel:
- For continued confirmation and encouragement as Dave assumes a new role at Eastside.
- Strength and wisdom as they lead and transition life from Chicago to Southern California.
- For Eastside’s future:
- For continued impact in the communities we serve.
June 20/21 – Join us as Dave Dummitt teaches Father’s Day Weekend. A great opportunity to hear from him personally.
August – Dave officially joins the Eastside team.
September/October – Dave and Gene will make weekend visits to all campuses.
Late 2026/Early 2027 – Dave steps into the Senior Pastor role, and Gene steps into the Pastor at Large role.
After 46 faithful years in ministry Gene will now be passing the baton to another strong, visionary leader. With 6 years of planning in partnership with Eastside’s Elder Board and trusted advisors, and the loving support of his wife, Barbara – this pastoral succession was never driven by a date on the calendar but instead by the moment God would make it clear that the next Senior Pastor for Eastside was found. At the invitation of Eastside’s Elder Board, Gene will be assuming a new role at Eastside, Pastor at Large, where he will serve as an ambassador for kingdom causes on behalf of Eastside to the wider church world. Gene’s primary role will be to serve Dave in any way needed and to pave the way for a healthy and God-honoring transition. Gene and Barbara also look forward to spending more time with family in this next season as they will welcome their sixth grandson this year!
Welcome Dave Dummitt
Please take a moment to watch this important announcement about an exciting next chapter for Eastside.