David Runge was born in Ohio in 1953. He received his B.S. in Psychology from Ohio State University where he met his bride, Kathy. He earned his M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees in counseling and studied theology at Georgia State University in partnership with the Psychological Studies Institute (now Richmont Graduate University), graduating in 1978. David served as a marriage and family counselor until 1985 when he began a career in aviation.

Since then, his roles have included business jet pilot and later, homeland missionary, offering him opportunities to contribute to ministry teams across Belize, Jamaica, Appalachia, Haiti, Mexico, India, and Africa in his later years.

During this time, he also served as a pastor for a 100-year-old country church which he subsequently discovered was founded by Bishop Milton Wright, the father of Orville and Wilbur. God has a sense of humor! David and Kathy walked with their son, Daniel, through struggles with addiction, incarceration, and recovery. This led to a deeper understanding of God’s affection and pleasure, both for them and Daniel, even on their worst days. This also led to their involvement with local ministries aiding the incarcerated and addiction recovery communities in Columbus, Indiana. They discovered during this time that God never abandons our children. They recently celebrated Daniel’s fifth year of sobriety and first wedding anniversary with his wonderful bride and their son, with deep gratitude to God.

David has served in leadership roles in three churches in North Carolina and Indiana, two of which were successful church plants. Now retired, he draws from this rich background and personal experiences in his new role as an author.  He writes to reveal God’s passionate heart for the burdened, broken and hurting bringing hope and joy in Jesus Christ.

His first book, Commended – Finding Your Joy in God’s Approval, Affirmation, and Pleasure (Even on Your Worst Days), debuted as the #1 Hot New Release in Amazon’s Christian Pastoral Counseling category and has received glowing reviews. Two small groups in David’s local church have scheduled it for study this Fall.