the country.
restoration—is consistently knocking at
the door of our hearts, waiting to give
In his early retirement, Dave did all the
our lives purpose. So, how is God using
usual things retired guys do. He spent
For Dave, who had never
The Thorn to impact New Lifers? Let’s
more time with his family, fixed things
acted a day in his life
take a look at two characters whose
up around the house, and injured a
before The Thorn, serving as the Head
personal stories were transformed
few golf balls. And then one day, his
Centurion has much more to do with
because they played a part in God’s
wife asked him if he’d be willing to
serving men and telling God’s story
bigger story. Consider the Centurion
take the kids to the kickoff for The
than it does brandishing a sword and
and the Choreographer.
Thorn. You know, since he didn’t have
marching down the aisles. Over the
anything else to do. He agreed, thinking
years, Dave has seen a faithful corps
The Centurion
it would be good to spend some time
of men come together. These men
If you’ve been around New Life very
in the lobby catching up on emails
work together, laugh together, weep
long, you’ve met Dave Doryland. You
and reading. Little did he know his
together and “do life” together - a
may not know that you’ve met him,
world was about to change. He had no
picture of community if there ever was
but you know who he is. As one of
idea the stage was being set to enter
one. Pull Dave aside sometime and he
the leaders of our Sunday Life Safety
Written by: John Bolin
country, Dave hung up his dress blues.
another chapter in God’s bigger story.
can tell you story after story of men
finding hope, strength, direction and
team, Dave helps to ensure that our
church is safe and sound. On Sunday
I
seat 31A on a flight from Denver
friendship as they band together to
mornings, Dave can usually be found
’m writing this article squished into
It was at that kickoff that Dave was
recruited to be part of the gnarly group
help tell God’s epic story. These are the
of cast members called
in the main lobby talking to
sounds a bit confusing, just
I think it’s because of
God designed
us so that our
life stories are
only made truly
meaningful in
the context of
His greater story
guests, answering myriad
think of the movies.
questions and generally
to Houston. A little girl next to me is
the power of story and
playing Sudoku, which is impressive
a decision to care for
compared to my obsession with a
the least of these. I’m
brainless game called Candy Crush.
convinced that when New
The guy in front of me has his seat back
Life Church decided 17
so far that my arms look like a T-Rex
years ago to encourage
as I type. In Houston, I’ll board another
a few high school and
plane and land later tonight in Veracruz,
college students to tell
Mexico, where I’m scheduled to meet
the Story of God through the arts, it
story because of the greater cause of
ah” thing usually reserved
with a group of 20 or so pastors who
pleased the heart of God. And I think
the Holy Grail. We love Woody in Toy
for guys in the military.
have invited us to bring The Th