Alumni Spotlight – David Goss
Rev. David Goss, M. Div., 2007, Alumni Council President
When Rev. David Goss was young, he moved from the East coast to California. He was utterly shocked when he realized that all of his new friends did not attend church and had parents who were divorced. This was very different from his life on the East coast since all of his friends there went to church and had parents who were married. In the midst of his new environment, his high school had a great Young Life program that he and many of his friends participated in. During a summer Young Life camp, David gave his life to the Lord for the first time. When he returned to his high school, he began preaching to his friends. However, this did not go over well, and he was left with few friends. Instead of continuing to preach and follow the Lord, David joined his friends’ lifestyle.
As David was getting close to graduating college at Stanford University, he was reminded of the reality of Christ through his involvement in Campus Crusade for Christ. Rev. Goss recommitted his life to Christ, and he was employed by a church as a junior high intern soon after graduation. He called this internship “a glorious year” as he grew and served the Lord. He recalled that he only had three possessions at that time: “a futon, a fish tank, and a Bible.”
David moved to Los Angeles, worked as a school teacher, and met his wife, Tracey. After he and Tracey were married, they read Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life and were challenged with the question, “What would you do for God if money and fear were not factors?” They both responded in knowing that ministry was what they were supposed to be doing. They sold their house and moved to Wilmore, Kentucky for David to attend seminary. Rev. Goss graduated from Asbury with his Master of Divinity in 2007.
David and his family moved back to California and planted Light and Life Church in Isla Vista, California. They are currently celebrating the ten year anniversary of their congregation. This congregation first met in a movie theater, then rented a Lutheran church before moving 1.5 miles toward the ocean in year five. Goss said that once the congregation made this move, they “found their niche” and “hit their stride.” They developed an identity around serving a community meal every Sunday after church and developing relationships with homeless people and students in the area. They partner with a community housing development for low to no income families, and they are very involved in the lives of the residents there.
David calls his wife Tracey a strong woman of God who “graciously accommodated him by marrying him.” David and Tracey have three boys – Noah, Caleb, and Micah, and David describes them as “funny, active, and good boys.” Both David and Tracey like to play beach volleyball, and they both got close to competing in the Olympics. David said that sometimes as he is walking along the beautiful, sunny east beach in Southern California, he thinks to himself about what a rough time it is struggling for God in ministry 🙂
Check out this video to get a closer look at David’s ministry at Light and Life:
A beautiful work of God. May the LORD bless you as you serve and struggle on His behalf.
Hey we were in Santa Barbara at Calvary Chapel years ago and loved it. You certainly have a diverse and challenging community there in Isla Vista. God bless you! (We are in Long Beach now)