Malibu Presbyterian Church hosted its first University Ministries service of the academic year Sept. 1 welcoming hundreds of fresh Pepperdine faces seasoned UM veterans and the newest addition to its Pastoral Staff and UM family Dave Pommer.
Pommer assumed his position as Malibu Presbyterian’s new University Ministries Director and College Pastor in June after Malibu Presbyterian Community and Pepperdine said a heartfelt and bittersweet goodbye to UM’s former director of four years Ross Lissman.
Lissman trading in his boardshorts for a laptop and snow jacket left Malibu to pursue a Master’s degree in creative writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Pommer said his predecessor will be missed as he not only expanded UM’s presence on the Pepperdine Campus but also paved the way for a community that seeks to see an end to a lukewarm faith at Pepperdine.
“Ross grew community Pommer said. Before him students didn’t have ownership of a community of faith but Ross fostered a movement that could not be confined to Tuesday nights. It was a movement that was transferred back to campus.”
Although the similarities between Pommer and Lissman are hard to ignore — both are Washington natives Husky fans to the core lovers of Christ —Pommer said he does not see himself as replacing Lissman but rather fulfilling his own new vision for UM that is made possible because of the work that Lissman had put in place.
“I have the good fortune of coming into a healthy ministry Pommer said. I’m thinking of things he could never have done because the foundation had not yet been built. Because of the work he did at Malibu Pres and in the lives of Pepperdine students, I am able to taking things to the next level.
Students share a similar perspective.
“Ross is a great leader and he impacted a lot of people here at UM. I pray the best for him and I know the community of UM will embrace David with open arms and get ready to move closer to Christ as a group said sophomore TJ Reed, frequent attendant of UM.
When Lissman announced that he would leave UM, Malibu Presbyterian alongside Pepperdine faculty and graduates set out on a nation wide search to find the perfect candidate to bring a new vision and vibrancy to UM. After steadfast prayer, hundreds of written responses, phone interviews and face-to-face interviews, Pommer was the clear candidate for the job.
Pommer, who had interned at Malibu Presbyterian for a year, displayed all of the qualities that the church and university were looking for.
Sure knowing him was a factor but definitely not the only factor said Malibu Presbyterian’s Pastor and Head of Staff, Greg Hughes. We love his passion character enthusiasm ability to work with others and overall heart for the church and ministry.”
Unlike many pastors Pommer’s faith and heart for college students stems not from a major in religion or time spent in Bible school but rather from leading a Christian life in an environment that was seemingly impossible for spiritual growth.
“In a secular state school where 4000 of its students are involved in Greek life there is a lot of darkness. Although there were a few believers in Christ that belonged to my fraternity it was by no means a Christian house said Pommer. To say that it challenged my conception of what it’s like to follow Christ would be a vast understatement. As an underclassman I thought I’d be the Christian Crusader but I soon realized that guys didn’t give a rip because I wasn’t on their level said Dave.
His realization convinced him to make a game change in his playbook for Christ: I learned early on to love guys like fellow Christians. There were many moments when I needed the love of God to love the guys and I soon realized that the best ways to connect with believers and non-believers was through common ground whether that consisted of ESPN SportsCenter or Fellowship Nights for the fraternities he said.
Pommer’s passion for college ministry was revealed to him through his own college ministry at the University of Washington, called the INN because it originally met at the Inn Chapel at University Presbyterian in Seattle. However, he wanted to see the same love for Christ spread throughout the fraternities and led a worship service for the fraternities.
There is nothing quite as powerful as worshipping Jesus Christ and loving your brothers in a deeper way in a fraternity that before seemed so empty. It became clear to me that we were made to love people and to be lights in the world despite the circumstances around us he said.
Going to a secular state school where rules and boundaries were not as much of a presence on campus was, in a way, a blessing in disguise.
As a believer I could be upfront about who I was and what I wanted to see happen in my community. There was transparency on both sides. And although it was mostly believers who attended our fellowship nights the people most impacted by the movement were often the roommates of those who attended regularly because they saw first hand the work God was doing in their roommates and in the environment they lived in said Dave.
Pommer said that his completion of a five-year landscape architecture degree taught him how to think abstractly and creatively.
People who major in subjects not necessarily related to the church are incredibly valuable to the church. I think that some of the most gifted pastors are those who have been in the environment of the congregation that’s where the gospel is being lived out on a daily basis especially for college students” he said.
Pommer’s creativity extends to his
vision for UM. He believes that different places shape us in different ways. He is strong in his conviction that as a student at Pepperdine there is just as much opportunity to grow in Christ’s Kingdom.
“I would love for students to embrace campus ministry Pommer said. My hope is that Pepperdine students would have real life in Jesus. The biggest need I see is to give Christian college students consolation in their struggle in deciding, is this life mine or Christ’s?
Pommer, as well as the rest of the UM leadership team, want to facilitate this walk with Christ through various life groups that cater to specific interests while providing Christian fellowship. Among these life groups are a sports life group that invites students to fellowship at a sporting event such as the Dodger’s game this Friday, Sept. 11, an outdoors life group, a women’s bible study and much more.
Pommer said he is wary of students thinking that UM is the only part of their walk with Christ in college. He wants it to be an edifying experience and a deep fellowship with not only other college kids but also a unified church.
Hughes agreed. I hope that people grow in love for Christ and for one another. College ministry is a launching pad for life and college students bring a vitality to the church as a whole he said.
I want people to see UM as a gateway into Christ’s larger church I want to see unity take root and flourish and above all create a home away from home for any Pepperdine student looking for a spiritual family” he stated.
“There was a feeling and vibe last night at UM that makes me want to know more. It was so welcoming and the energy was tangible said Jordan Slay, a Pepperdine freshman and first time attendant of UM. I can’t wait to go back!”
Pommer and the rest of the Malibu Presbyterian staff gear their ministry to everyone especially Pepperdine students and said the door is open for anyone who wants to come inside.