David Beach, retiring pastor at Gaines Calton Community Church, answered call for second career in ministry

Photo by Tom Rivers: David Beach and his wife Debbie were celebrated last Sunday at the Gaines Carlton Community Church on Route 104. Beach led the church the past 16 years as the pastor.

GAINES – David Beach can relate to his congregation when delivering messages from the pulpit.

Becoming a pastor has been a second career for Beach. He worked at the former Lipton’s in Albion for nearly 10 years until it closed in 1980. He then worked at Ames in Medina for 2 ½ years before spending a long tenure at Ontario Food and later Associated Brands in Medina.

Through it all, Beach was active at his church as a youth leader, a church moderator and very involved member. Church leaders – Bob Mowatt at the First Baptist Church in Albion and Karen Allamon at the Barre Center Presbyterian Church – would encourage him to consider becoming a pastor. Beach said he felt that call and pursued a certificate in ministry at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester at Roberts Wesleyan.

At age 61 he retired from Associated Brands and began a life dedicated to ministry. At that time 16 years ago, there was an opening at the Gaines Carlton Community Church. It was an ideal situation with the church close to home and affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA.

File photos: (Left) David Beach speaks during a service on Nov. 17, 2019 for the 50th anniversary of the church. The congregation at 14585 Ridge Rd. was formed as part of a merger of three churches in East Gaines, the Bridges and Kent. (Right) During a baccalaureate service on June 5 for Albion’s Class of 2022, Beach prayed for some of the soon-to-be grads, including his grandson, James Beach.

Beach has retired as pastor at age 77. His wife Debbie has been a key part of the ministry, going back to when they were volunteer youth leaders. Gaines Carlton honored the couple last Sunday with a reception.

“They made a good team,” said long-time member Peggy Bropst. “They live their faith. They are kind, gentle people.”

Pastor Dave said many people, including some of the local clergy, had seen him as a church leader long before he made it official as a pastor.

“What took you so long?” he recalled some of the pastors telling him.

Beach said he has enjoyed giving the Sunday sermons to the congregation, welcoming children in the services, doing visitations and offering some guidance to church and community members.

“I didn’t do counseling,” he said. “I did listening.”

Beach has some advice for people considering a role in ministry: find a mentor and pursue that desire.

But, ultimately, he said God needs to direct their path.

“I felt this calling,” he said.

He is grateful to have been able to serve at Gaines Carlton Community Church for 16 years, where he said many are long-time members with roots going back several generations.

“I have enjoyed getting to know the people better,” he said. “I enjoyed relating to the children, and trying to inspire and teach the congregation.”

David and Debbie raised three sons – Mike, Darryll and Matt. They are all married. The Beaches have five grandchildren and a great-grandson. They all attended the reception last Sunday.

The church is looking for a pastor. Right now, two local church pastors are alternating in delivering the sermons on Sunday: Susan Boring from the Eagle Harbor Methodist Church and Marsha Rivers from the First Baptist Church in Albion.