Spirit and Truth Ministries
Biography of David Spakes
This web site contains a scrapbook and condensed biography of David Spakes,
Pastor of
Spirit and Truth Fellowship of Knoxville
and founder of
Spirit and Truth Ministries. In most cases, you can click on pictures
to see an enlarged photo in a separate window.
[1980s]
[1990s]
[2000s]
[2010s]
[All Years]
[1980]
[1981]
[1982]
[1983]
[1985]
[1988]
[1989]
[1990]
[1991]
[1992]
[1993]
[1994]
[1995]
[1996]
[1997]
[1998]
[1999]
[2000]
[2001]
[2002]
[2003]
[2004]
[2005]
[2006]
[2007]
[2008]
[2009]
[2010]
[2011]
[2012]
Attended the Florida Evangelism Project, Daytona Beach, FL
"The blizzard of the century occurred in March, 1993. A few
hours before the snow started falling in Cookeville, Tennessee, my
friend Barry Winn and I started driving to Daytona Beach, Florida
to attend FLEP (the Florida Evangelism Project), a mission of
Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship to college students on Spring
Break. God was with us, because we narrowly made it through the State
of Georgia as Interstate 75 closed at several points behind us
just minutes after we passed through. We made it, though, and joined
about a hundred other IVCF students from other college campuses around
the country. The beach was quiet that week, because even though no
snow fell in Daytona Beach, the skies were overcast and the temperature
was about forty degrees all week.
Several memorable things happened during FLEP that week, but I will
share only one story that goes along with the picture below. That is
me in the picture with the long hair, but you must understand that
the hair is fake and attached to the Ron Jon's souvenier hat that I
bought in Florida and am wearing in the photograph. Don't you agree
that it matches the color of my beard very closely? Well, one very
intoxicated young man thought so. We passed him on the sidewalk as
we were headed to a Large Group meeting with the other FLEP students.
He stopped us, looked at me with the long hair and carrying my guitar,
and asked what music I played. When I told him we were Christians and
that I played gospel music, he said (slowly and slurred) something
like, 'Hey man, would you play Amazing Grace for me?' I played it,
the other students with me sang to the young man, and together we all
witnessed to him. This picture was taken after Barry and I returned
to Cookeville and I was telling the students in our chapter of IVCF
this story and about the other things that happened during our week
in Florida."
Singing at the Church of God of Prophesy, Dyersburg, TN
"For part of the time I was enrolled at Tennessee Technological
University, I attended church services at the Church of God of Prophesy
in Cookeville, Tennessee. The pastor moved to Dyersburg, Tennessee, and
on one weekend in 1993, Ruby Lea and I visited him at his new
church. We sang during the Sunday morning service. On the same trip,
we also found time to drive to Reelfoot Lake to spend part of the
afternoon with the Pastor's family. Pictured below is the church building,
Pastor James Lawson and his wife, Brenda Lawson, and a scene
from Reelfoot Lake."
Preaching at the Algood Church of God, Algood, TN
"I was introduced to the Algood Church of God by
one of my college friends, Tara. As part of my voluteer work with
Spirit and Truth Ministries, I sang at this church and visited a
nearby nursing home. For part of the time I was enrolled at
Tennessee Technological University, I attended church services at
the Algood Church of God. On a few occasions during that time, I
preached the Sunday services at the church. The second picture
below was taken of the church members in attendance during one of
the services in which I preached."
Officiating My First Wedding in Maryville, TN
"Two of my college friends, Michael and Sonja, decided to get married
after they graduated, and they asked me to perform the ceremony.
The wedding took place at the historic Seventh Day Adventist Church
building on Highway 411 in Maryville, Tennessee. At the time these
pictures were taken, I had no idea that after my own graduation I would
be moving to this part of the State, less than fifteen miles from where
this church is located."
[1980s]
[1990s]
[2000s]
[2010s]
[All Years]
[1980]
[1981]
[1982]
[1983]
[1985]
[1988]
[1989]
[1990]
[1991]
[1992]
[1993]
[1994]
[1995]
[1996]
[1997]
[1998]
[1999]
[2000]
[2001]
[2002]
[2003]
[2004]
[2005]
[2006]
[2007]
[2008]
[2009]
[2010]
[2011]
[2012]
Spirit and Truth Ministries /
contact@spirit-and-truth.net