As the sun rises on a Wednesday morning in May, a vintage ‘65 Ford Mustang cruises up to a home just off Milwaukee Street on Madison’s east side. Dave Bechtold jumps up and helps the driver back the classic pony car in next to a bright yellow Dodge muscle car of more recent vintage. Before long the front yard and curb is filled with cars and motorcycles, as their owners sit nearby enjoying cups of coffee, donuts, and other breakfast fare.
It’s another Dads at Dave’s morning. Each Wednesday during May and October, it’s a place for guys to hang out, shoot the breeze, and enjoy some fresh air camaraderie that is not all that common these days.
For two decades Dave Bechtold was a children’s pastor, first at Mad City Church, and then at City Church (after Mad City and Lake City churches merged to create City Church). Then a couple of years ago he sensed God calling him to try something different, ministering in places outside the four church walls, places where people might feel more comfortable being themselves. Like Dads at Dave’s.
He’s still a pastor. He calls his new mission to Madison Outside the Walls, and it is supported by City Church. It’s unconventional in a way that suits his unique personality, which would fit easily on the comedy club circuit.
“Hosting people and being generous are some of my favorite things to do,” he says. “I like to connect with people who have no grid for church. We invite people, they show up, and we share.”
One morning a police officer dropped in on Dads at Dave’s. The officer was impressed. “This is where community happens,” he said. “You’re doing it.”
Dads at Dave’s is just one event. Burgers and the Bible is another. There are movie nights that include food, movie, and then a discussion. He’s also the unofficial chaplain at a local cigar lounge where get-togethers (with men and women) are called Holy Smokes. “Non-smoking tables are available,” he adds.
Often accompanied by his wife Sara, they look for opportunities to spread the love of God and meet new friends at festivals, fairs, concerts, car shows, coffee shops, etc. “Many people in Madison are not part of a church because they don’t know God, and they don’t know God because they haven’t been properly introduced to Jesus,” he says.
The Bechtolds have been called to spend significant time outside the walls of the church building, sometimes connecting with people who are in difficult places and wouldn’t think to go to church. “We go places that Jesus would probably go to, to have unique conversations and create safe environments for unchurched people to taste and see that the Lord is good,” Dave says. “We want to connect people with Jesus.”
Dave and Sara also facilitate marriage conferences and parenting workshops, and meet people through a variety of official and unofficial networks. Dave’s connection with Madison funeral homes finds him frequently sharing comfort and hope by officiating services for the community. He and Sara also travel, equipping churches on how to effectively reach people through public events and personal evangelism.
His mission to move ministry outside of the church walls began about a decade ago when he realized that the men in his neighborhood seemed to be hungry for better relationships with other men, but didn’t know how to do that. Loneliness has become a serious mental health problem in society. So he invited them over to the house one morning to drink coffee and sit around a campfire.
It was awkward. But they still liked it. It was kind of awkward for his family too, but his four kids said he should keep doing it. Dads at Dave’s was launched.
“We just stumbled upon it,” he said. “We didn’t know what we were saying yes to. I’m not responsible for results, but I am responsible for being faithful.”
But there are results. The best results are when the message about Jesus hits home and a new friend tells him, “I don’t know exactly how to get there, but I want you to help me get there.”
Dave is more than ready to help.