Authors
DR. DAVID GUDGEL - Born and raised in California, Dr. Dave Gudgel has called Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Agoura Hills and now Phoenix “home.” A 1975 graduate of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, Dave earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Two years later, he enrolled in Talbot Theological Seminary, a graduate school of Biola University in La Mirada, California, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in Practical Theology in 1980. Eight years later, Dave earned a Doctorate in Preaching at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Dave’s background includes a vocational pursuit in Architecture before he developed an interest in ministry as a sophomore in college. His ministry experiences since have included a campus pastor ministry at Santa Barbara City College, then Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor and Senior Pastor ministry responsibilities. In 2002 Dave completed twenty-one years of ministry as the Senior Pastor of the Agoura Bible Fellowship in the northwest Los Angeles area. From there Dave joined the staff at Bethany Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona where Dave serves as the Senior Pastor. Dave’s radio ministry, LifeBridge, can be heard weekdays on KPXQ 13.60 AM.
Since 1986 Dave has been on the faculty of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries and has taught over 150 seminars for them including “Walk Thru the Old Testament”, Walk Thru the New Testament”, and “Effective Parenting In A Defective World.” Over the past two years, Dave has also begun speaking for Rick Warren and the Purpose Driven Church Ministries as the keynote speaker for their conferences in Southeast Asia.
Dave’s writings include the Owner’s Guide to Using Your Bible (published by Revell, 1987), and Before You Live Together, which was published by Regal Books in 2003.
Dave and His wife Bernice have three children.
Before You Get Engaged was also written with my son Brent, and his girlfriend (at the time) Danielle.
BRENT GUDGEL - Brent is a filmmaker in Los Angeles. An owner of the production company Chronicle Project, he directed the award-winning documentary Dear Francis, which continues to air on Showtime and The Movie Channel throughout 2008. The film is about the most HIV-infected nation in the world, Swaziland, and has also been used by non-profits, universities, and shurches across the country. He has also worked in over 20 countries for clients including Ford, Saddleback Church, Azusa Pacific University, and Fuller Seminary. When not on a set, Brent occasionally travels to conferences, colleges, camps, and churches across America to speak about social justice.
When they started writing this book, Brent was dating Danielle Fitch…
DANIELLE FITCH - Danielle is a graduate from Azusa Pacific University where she studied English and teaching. She has been involved in the church and non-profit world most of her life in some capacity, and she is subsequently committed to international, social, and environmental causes. One of her most important experiences has been in the country of Ethiopia in intervals during her teen and college years. She hopes to do something important for Jesus, whatever that may end up being.
Brent and Danielle both agreed to work on the book while they were considering getting engaged.
Evidently the book helped. Brent and Danielle were married at the end of 2007.
LINKS TO OTHER WEBPAGES
