An interview with
Dave Briley, Associate Pastor, Worship & Arts

What is your most vivid memory as child?

An 8-inch snow on Christmas Eve and having the first White Christmas.

What is your favorite memory or story regarding your spouse or child?

If I have to pick just one, it would be witnessing the miracle of the birth of my three children.

What is a favorite tradition?

A family pajama ride late on Christmas Eve night to see all the beautiful lights.

What sports or hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?

Playing golf and watching baseball, especially the Atlanta Braves!

What is something that would surprise us about you?

I love gourmet cooking and grilling outside. Also love aviation and anything to do with airplanes. Probably would be an airplane pilot if I were not in the ministry.

What do you love most about Glenda?

Her spontaneity and creativity.

How did you propose?

Across the dinner table as “Dear Hearts” was being played at the piano. It was our song, and she said YES!

How did you come to know Christ?

My parents and home church were strong influences of course, but my Sunday School teacher led me to Christ and I made that public on Easter Sunday in 1962 as an 8 year old. I recognized as an 8 year old, Christ’s extreme love and sacrifice for my personal sin and that he died and rose again to have a personal relationship with ME!

Tell us about your education, what was best/worst subject?

I’ve been in Church Music since high school days. I did my undergraduate at Samford University in Birmingham. My worst subject was Music History! My favorite/best subject was piano and theory/composition. In seminary, I majored in Conducting and enjoyed it very much, and was still not very good at you guessed it – Music History!

How did you come to be in ministry.

I had always been involved in church music since being big enough to sit at a piano bench. In the 10th grade I was attending a summer music camp and gave my life to full-time ministry. This came about through a deep musical performance experience in a choir, and the teaching of the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25: 14 during that week. For awhile I thought that my call was going to in the commercial music business in Christian music. I even spent a summer as an intern at Walt Disney World learning the music “business” side of things and playing keyboards as part of the “Kids of the Kingdom” on the Cinderella castle stage. But God had other plans, and when I came back home that summer, I renewed my commitment to pursue church music fulltime in the local church setting.

Tell us about your pets…

Chipper is our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He is named after Chipper Jones on the Atlanta Braves baseball team. This dog doesn’t just love you – he falls in love with you. The best pet/companion we’ve ever had!

What do you do at FBC?

My title is the Associate Pastor of Worship & Arts. I know we have to have titles, but what I do takes on a variety of activities. My primary role is facilitating the worship planning and worship services for FBC. My passion is leading worship and leading others to know and experience a lifestyle of worship. Planning worship services, musical productions, leading choirs, playing piano, singing – all of these add to my joy and I’ve really never known any other job!

Dave’s Favorites!

Foods – Fruits, especially strawberries

Color - Orange

Season - Fall

Sport – Golf, Baseball

Style of Music – are you kidding!? All styles, especially jazz.

Music Group or Soloist – Phillips, Craig, and Dean

Book (other than the Bible), I love Max Lucado and John Piper and anything they write.

Song – Favorite hymn – “All Creatures of Our God and King”

Bible Verse – Colossians 3:16-17

Movie – I love “The Sound of Music”

TV series – “The West Wing” – I love anything having to do with presidential history.