'Everyone knows Brother Dave.' Pastor celebrates 60 years at Trinity Gospel Temple

CANTON − The numbers tell the tale of the Rev. David Lombardi's faithfulness.

Since 1963, he has preached virtually every Sunday.

Add to that weddings, funerals, baptisms and other special occasions, and well, you get the picture.

At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Lombardi, 91, will be honored for 60 years as the lead pastor of Trinity Gospel Temple, the nondenominational church he started in 1963 at the cusp of the Jesus People movement.

"We're going to sit onstage and take a walk down memory lane and show some photos and videos," said the Rev. Dana Gammill, senior pastor of Cathedral of Life and Lombardi's partner in ministry. "There are going to be people that have been connected to the ministry. We'll also have some surprises."

Lombardi is one of the longest-tenured pastors of a congregation in the U.S. and one of the oldest active televangelists in religious broadcasting, having started in 1974.

Still going: 'Brother Dave' Lombardi still has a heart for ministry

"He loves people," Gammill said. "Everybody knows 'Brother Dave.'"

Lombardi, who was raised Catholic, and his wife, Meralene, started Trinity Gospel Temple in October 1963 with 22 members in a former Jehovah's Witnesses hall at Fifth and High Streets SW.

The ministry also, known then as "Canton Jesus People," made waves because it was the city's first racially integrated congregation.

"We were independent, and happened to strike at the right place at the right time," Lombardi said.

Brother David Lombardi recalls memorable members

Lombardi said one of his most memorable members was Eva Simpson, a Black widow who listened to his radio broadcasts in West Virginia and was so impressed that she moved to Canton in 1968 to help with the growing ministry.

"She said she wanted to help close the divide," he recalled. "I told her to get up here by bus, train, any way she could."

In 1975, the ministry purchased and remodeled the former Shopper's Fair department store at 1612 Tuscarawas St. W. The 1,800-seat sanctuary played host to a number of concerts and events, showcasing such nationally known gospel artists as Andrae Crouch, Larnelle Harris, Carmen, TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch, and its annual Easter pageant, "A Hill Called Calvary."

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Gammill noted that it's harder to measure attendance today because so many people now watch services through livestream.

"The world has changed," he said.

'Let's see what God can do.'

In the spring of 2017, after Cathedral of Life suffered a devastating fire, Lombardi invited the congregation to relocate to Trinity.

"He knew me as a boy," said Gammill, whose late father, Bishop Herschel Gammill, founded Cathedral of Life in 1981. "He invited us to come the Trinity, saying 'Let's see what God can do.' We realized we had more in common, than differences. I've found that my biological dad, and Brother Dave, my spiritual father, are similar in their approach to loving and caring for people. He has deep compassion for people who are struggling and hurting and are impoverished in this city."

Gammill said that after the Cathedral of Life building at 4111 38th St. NW is restored, it will be used for ministry.

"My father planted that church. It's important for us that we have ministry going out of that building," he said. "What that looks like, we don't really know at this point."

Legally, the two ministries remain separate.

"We're not leaving here," Gammill said of Trinity. "I know it's my assignment to walk with them and to help him carry on and preserve his legacy."

Lombardi said their friendship goes back years.

"I've always had a great relationship with the Gammills," he said. "It really seemed the most natural flow. It isn't easy to trust when men come around and say, 'I want to help you.' My wife and I don't have children, so he feels like a spiritual son. His son, who's also in the ministry, seems like my grandson, whom I love. So, it works out real nice."

'I don't know when I'm going to retire.'

At 91, Lombardi remains fit and trim due to a disciplined diet and exercise. Sporting a crown of black hair, a dapper black suit, white shirt and a thin black tie, he looks more like an aging rock star than a preacher.

The man who originally planned to be in business before he was called to ministry said he fully intended to retire from Trinity nearly 30 years ago — but God had other plans.

"When I reached 65, my wife and I were all set to retire in Florida," he said.

But that changed after Lombardi said he was awakened by a mysterious "rushing wind" sound at 3 a.m., followed by a voice, which said, "I'm not through with you yet."

"So, I don't know when I'm going to retire, " he said with a laugh.

Every Sunday, he and the Gammills share pulpit duty, with Gammill leading the 9 a.m. service, Lombardi speaking at 10:30 a.m., and Gammill's son, Michael, leading evening services at 6 p.m.

Asked how many weddings and funerals he has performed, Lombardi said he didn't know, noting that he stopped counting weddings at 100.

"It has to be in the thousands," Gammill said. "I appreciate his heart for people and for this city and for the fact that he has never quit. He just keeps going. That's a powerful thing in this day and age."

Both men credit Lombardi's wife, Meralene, for the ministry's success. Lombardi said that in addition to working in the office, his wife also oversaw the church's music program for years.

"We both have a love for people," Lombardi said.

The couple, who met at a Bible college in Los Angeles, have been married for 67 years.

"She really is the secret sauce behind the ministry," Gammill said.

Lombardi was asked what's been the most rewarding aspect about being in ministry for 60 years.

"In my heart, I feel so satisfied that I've affected people to return to God," he said. "A lot of the people I (served) originally were drug addicts, and hippies. Because of so much negative things going on, we'd like to be the church that ignites a turnaround."

Trinity will host a free Children's Fall Festival following Sunday's service. To learn more visit https://www.trinitybrotherdave.org/ or call 877-453-2519.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

Long-tenured pastors in Stark County

Here are some other local pastors with lengthy tenures at a single church:

Rev. P.H. Welshimer, First Christian, Canton - 56 years

Rev. Peter Herbruck, German Reformed, Canton -  53 years

Rev. Harold Henniger, Canton Baptist Temple - 43 years

Rev. Bruce D. Cummons, Massillon Baptist Temple, Massillon - 45 years

Very Rev. Constantine Shiepies, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Massillon - 45 years

Suffragan Bishop Ralph Byrd, Greater Bethel Apostolic, Canton - 40 years

Rev. Mary Wheat, Mount Nebo United Holy, Canton - 37 years

Bishop C. Herschel Gammill, Cathedral of Life, Plain Township - 36 years

Rev. George Parkinson, Christ Presbyterian, Canton - 35 years.

Rev. Michael Cameneti, Faith Family Church, Jackson Township - 35 years

Rev. Warren P. Chavers, Deliverance Christian, Canton - 34 years

Rev. Wilbur H. Allen Jr., All Saints Temple Church of God in Christ, Canton - 36 years

Rev. W.C. Henderson, Antioch Baptist, Canton - 32 years

Rev. Floyd Summers, Mount Olive Baptist, Canton - 30 years

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 'Brother Dave' Lombardi celebrating 60 years at Trinity Gospel Temple