About the Founder

Dave was born in Omaha, NE. The summer after he graduated from High School, Dave heard the Gospel, believed it and committed his life to Jesus Christ. Almost immediately there was a clear call on Dave’s life to speak and share his passion for Christ, especially with youth.

After taking several Bible courses at a local Bible College in 1976, he felt called into full time Christian service. For the next ten years he served as both the Director of Youth Guidance with Youth for Christ and as an associate pastor with an emphasis on youth ministry.

However, in 1986 Dave felt led to pursue an insider approach to reaching the lost by joining the Sarpy Count Sheriff’s Office and then the Omaha Police Department where for 20 years he has shared his life and the truth of Christ as a law enforcement officer in the Omaha Metro area. In 1995, the Police Department selected Dave to fill a special duty assignment as the School Resource Officer at Omaha South, the most diverse high school in Omaha. His primary role is to break down walls between the police and youth. God has granted him much favor with both the administration and students.

For over 20 years, Dave has been a popular speaker at youth retreats, men's retreats, conferences, leadership camps, keynote addresses, and numerous churches averaging upwards of 100 speaking engagements per year. He has enjoyed a special relationship with the Nebraska Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, providing leadership and teaching for junior high, high school and collegiate ministries throughout the state of Nebraska. For several years, Dave led inductive Bible studies in his home to prepare senior high and college students for life and ministry. He personally discipled several of these men, who went on to serve in key spiritual leadership roles in their respective churches and some into full-time Christian ministries.

In addition to Straight Shot, for the past 6 years Dave has partnered with his younger brother Al (of the ministry Al Newell & Associates-ANA) and has trained leaders from over 50 countries on 4 continents in ANA's High Impact model of ministry. High Impact is defined as "an organization-wide commitment to select and disciple volunteers and teams to effectively reach kingdom goals."

Dave and his wife Jacki have been married 35 years. They have three children (two of them married) and 6 grandchildren.
All of their children profess to know and love the Lord.