Dave Newton: As a parent ‘put your confidence in God - in the one who holds your child more tightly than you ever could.’

Dave, let’s start out with you telling us a bit about yourself.

OK so I am Dave Newton. I’m an Elim Pentecostal, ordained minister, working as the National Director of Scripture Union (SU) England and Wales. My background has got two sides to it. One is youth mission and ministry – I worked for Youth for Christ (YfC) for many years and now work for SU. The second side to my work is that in-between I was the principal of Regents Theological College in Malvern and director of training for the Elim movement. Born and brought up in Merseyside I now live in Malvern which is a beautiful part of the world, married to Liz and have three children who are all adults.

Tell us a bit about your childhood—what was life and faith like in the Newton home?

I grew up in a home shaped by ministry. My parents were both missionaries before they met; my mum was steady and faithful, my dad more of a maverick. He was kicked out of Morocco in the early ‘70s for being a Christian but snuck back in just to see my mum while they were courting. That gives you a glimpse of his character.

Dad had an RAF background and was radically converted while serving. He bought himself out because he felt a higher calling—not to serve Queen and country, but the King of Kings. From then on, he was all-in with ministry.

I was the middle of three brothers. John, the eldest, was orderly and calm; Steve, the youngest, was full of life and adventure. I was the sporty, slightly mischievous one—somewhere in the middle. There was a lot of energy in the house. It wasn’t unusual for Sunday mornings to start with a scuffle between us, which usually ended with Dad separating me from the others and sticking me in the corner of his study while he prepped for his sermon.

More than anything, they gave me a foundation of faith, a sense that God is real and present, and a life of faith is worth pursuing 

But even those moments were formational. Sitting quietly in his study taught me not only about discipline but also about presence. Dad loved to walk to church, and I’d often go with him. We rarely talked; we just walked, side by side. It was enough to be together.

Dad was definitely a disciplinarian, but I knew his heart was for Jesus. Mum was the quiet, consistent, prayerful one. I don’t think a night went by without her reading the Bible and praying with us. We had a little prayer routine, always praying for a list of people, many of whom I never knew, that shaped me.