Meet Our Pastor!

For this child, Hannah prayed! After three years of marriage, Suffragan Bishop Gentry and Mary E. Richardson were blessed of the Lord to conceive their first of seven children. They named him David William Richardson. He, along with his siblings, were brought up in a God-fearing home. He was greatly influenced by gospel music which drew him to God, and eventually he became a member of the music department at Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Church. Back in the day, no one was allowed to participate in capacity within the church if they were not baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost. Attending church concerts was an activity he really enjoyed. One electrifying performance by Ira Lynne, director of the Terry Lynne Choral Ensemble, blew him away and steered him into the similar art of choral directing. Sis. Mae Pearl West recognized the God-given talent in him, and persuaded him to teach a song to the choir, and he did. To the surprise of all in attendance, he stood the following Sunday to direct the song he taught, and the Lord blessed! Bishop Smith, his pastor, was out of town that weekend. Upon Bishop Smith's return back home, Bishop Smith called him into his office. The fire was lit and could and could not be quenched, so receiving the Holy Ghost was imperative if he wanted to fulfill his passion. Some of his influences were his mother, (who was an accomplished musician) his father (for his faithfulness to God and the church he served), Bishop Charles Watkins, Bishop Wayne S. Davis, Dr. Joe Westmoreland, and Dr. Eldoris Bonner. These are just a few of the people who helped in his development.

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The same year he received the Holy Ghost, he was approached by the Minister of Music of the California Nevada Hawaii District Council and asked to contribute music for the upcoming council. God promoted Brother Richardson from local choir director to district choir director, then to state choir director, then to regional director, and finally to Western Regional Choir Director of the International Young People's Union of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (PAW, Inc.).

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In the early 1980s, by the urging of the Holy Ghost, Brother Richardson was called to the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not feeling worthy and unqualified, he ran from the calling causing himself and others harm. After accepting the call, he began seeking instruction from various schools of higher learning. He attended Bethlehem Temple School of Religious Training, Aenon Bible College, Life Bible College, and Ministerial Training Institute where he received a Bachelor's of Biblical Science and a Master's of Theology. He has also been blessed to sit under some of the greatest minds in Pentecostalism.

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One of his many accomplishments was being a member of the organization called Pentecostal Heritage, which was the group that secured the property on Bonnie Brae Street. This is the property where Rev. Seymour, along with others, prayed until the Holy Ghost fell at the Azusa Street Revival. With the permission of his pastor, Bishop William L. Smith, in 1990 he left his home church to help build a work in Culver City under the pastorate of Herbert Parker called Liberty Worship Center. Two years later, he was installed as pastor of that church by the late Bishop G. Grady Benton, former pastor of Apostolic Faith Home Assembly. He pastored Liberty Worship Center from 1992 to 2000. In 2000, he returned to Bethlehem Temple, and he brought some of the members from the Culver City Church.

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In 2006, he was approached by the late Pastor Frankie Candies about pastoring Bethany Apostolic Community Church of San Pedro. He replied saying he would pray and seek God for His answer. After receiving confirmation from the Lord, he accepted the assignment. He received counsel from the Late Bishop Henry L. Johnson to act as pastor for a year before assuming the full time position. After that year, Bishop Johnson commission the late Suffragan Bishop Robert T. Douglas, Ph.D. to install Elder David William Richardson as pastor.

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Pastor Richardson started his walk with the Lord over forty years ago, and has been blessed to received many rewards and accolades from church organizations all over the United States, Europe, Israel, and the Caribbean. He is also a contributing writer for Ministers' Voice magazine. In January 2015, he was again promoted to the position of District Elder over District #2 of the Central California District Council of the PAW, Inc. In 2021, he was promoted to Suffragan Bishop over region #3 of the Central District Council of the PAW, Inc. Pastor Richardson is a professor at Aenon Bible College West Coast. He has a unique ministry and that is what's so great about this gospel. We are a piece of the body; many members having one body of the same Spirit.

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While evangelizing in Sacramento, he was reacquainted with a friend, Shanti C. Holman. They were married in April 2001. Pastor Richardson is the husband to Shanti C. Richardson, the father of four children, and the grandfather of two grandchildren. Pastor David and First Lady Richardson are trying their best to make a difference in the lives of people, one member at a time.