Insideout: Describe your usual morning routine.
David Bernard: On a typical weekday when I am in the office I get up at 6:30 am, exercise, pray, get ready for the day, eat a light breakfast, and go to next door to work. I am usually in the office by 8:00 am. Of course, this routine varies due to travel and weekend events.
IO: Where do you get the majority of your current event news? From a traditional newspaper or on the Web?
DB: Most of my daily news comes from the Internet. I also read a weekly news magazine and newspapers on the weekend.
IO: If you could have only one more meal home-cooked by your wife, what would it be?
DB: Roast beef with all the trimmings or Shrimp Victoria.
IO: What is one place you’ve never been, but would love to go to and why?
DB: Spain, because of its history, culture, and scenery.
IO: Who is one leader from American history that you really want to meet and why?
DB: Abraham Lincoln, because he was our greatest president, showing extraordinary and decisive leadership in our greatest national crisis, and his speeches and writings reveal profound spiritual reasoning.
IO: How many books have you written?
DB: Thirty books, including five booklets and three compilations on CD-ROM.
IO: Of those, what is your personal favorite and why?
DB: The Oneness of God, because it was the first book I wrote alone—at age twenty-five—and it is Word Aflame Press’s bestseller.
IO: Name three books you think every young person should read.
DB: For a presentation and defense of Christian beliefs in a secular age, I recommend Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. If considering one of my books, The Apostolic Life (which includes chapters on knowing God’s will and making decisions regarding education and career) or In Search of Holiness (basic Christian living). Our church’s youth pastor, Seth Simmons, recommends Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey. I haven’t read it, but I read the book by his father that it is based upon (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey).
IO: You were recently elected to be the next Superintendent of the UPCI. Describe how you will approach this new position. What will be your main job responsibilities, and are there any specific programs you want to promote?
DB: The superintendent is the general overseer and manager of all the work of the UPCI, and he presides over the General Conference and General Board. His job is to provide vision, direction, and oversight. Rather than presenting specific programs at this time, I am taking a fresh look at our strategies for communication, financial planning, decision making, management, and teamwork. I have been meeting with each division and department head to discuss goals, obstacles, and plans. I want to encourage the pursuit of our priorities at the grass roots, particularly through district involvement and through interaction with our younger ministers.
IO: Coming in, what is your vision for the future?
DB: I believe that our priorities should be (1) to build on our foundation by emphasizing apostolic identity, apostolic unity, and apostolic revival; (2) to meet the challenges of our day through effective internal and external communication, efficiency of operations, and planning for appropriate and progressive change; and (3) focus on the dynamics of growth such as recruiting, training, and involving ministers and planting new churches and daughter works through a team approach. As an organization, we have set a goal to double in size, and I am committed to reaching that goal. I believe we are entering the greatest time of apostolic revival the world has ever known.
IO: This month’s feature article encourages young people and young adults to take a stand for Christianity. What is the best way or some of the best role models we could glean from in our quest to do this more effectively?
DB: We should learn from the unsung heroes among us, including parents who have overcome adversity, faithful pastors, dedicated teachers, and youth who are serving God despite the apathy or opposition of unsaved family and friends. We also have great examples from the Bible and from our own Apostolic heritage, such as G. T. Haywood, Andrew Urshan, E. L. and Nona Freeman, and many other leaders and missionaries. It is significant to note how young they were when they first made consecrations and took stands for truth. What they did in their generation, we can do in ours if we will pray, study, build our lives upon the Word of God, and seek after God’s Spirit.
