Horses, Harleys and Ministry: 15 Questions for Dave and Becky Weigley

Interviews by Celeste Ryan Blyden

Dave and Becky Weigley have spent 40 years in marriage and ministry. What do they enjoy doing together? What’s on their bucket lists? What lessons have they learned in life and leadership? Get to know them here.

Dave:

1. Birthplace: Hershey, Pennsylvania
2. College: Washington Adventist University
3. Wife: Becky
4. How many children: 2
5. Favorite music: Easy listening
6. Favorite pet: Dog, horse or cat
7. Favorite Bible text: John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
8. Favorite Ellen White book: Desire of Ages. It talks about Jesus. It's all about Him. If you want to get to know Jesus, read Desire of Ages. You get to know Jesus, you’ll fall in love with Him. You fall in love with Jesus, you’ll want to be like Him. You want to be like Him, you'll go out and minister for Him.
9. Favorite exercise: I love running
10. Favorite past time: Riding through the forest on my horse or riding the Harley Davidson with Becky
11. Favorite U.S. president: Abraham Lincoln. He stood for human rights. I see the 16th president as the greatest because, in spite of all the odds, he stood up and said, ‘We must do this cause it's right.’”
12. Biggest fear: Maybe not being the person I want to be.
13. What’s on your bucket list: I love to travel. I want to go to places I've never been in the world, one is Morocco. I want to go on a nice safari in Africa, in Tanzania. I want to write a couple of books.
14. Biggest leadership lesson: Listen. Listen. As leaders, we don't listen very well. We want to go full steam ahead before we listen. When I was up in the Washington Conference, as a new president, one man told me, ‘You know, you remind me of an elephant.’ I said, ‘Really? I have that good of a memory?’ ‘I'm not talking about your memory; I'm talking about your ears. You actually listen,’ he said. I thought that was a real complement, but I thought about it afterward; I don't really listen enough. And I think I need to do more of that. Sitting down, just listening to people and trying to understand before moving ahead, that's the greatest leadership lesson I have learned. And once you do listen, don't dilly dally around. Make a decision and move ahead. It's better to make a decision than not to make a decision. Make a decision on what you think is right, and stick to it. Stick to what you think is right, though the heavens fall. Like Ellen White said, keep moving ahead, do what's right. I think that's very important.
15. What will it read on your tombstone someday: Hmm, if I rest in Jesus, I think, “Here lies Dave Weigley who really tried to do what he believed was right.

Becky:

1. Birthplace: Bradenton, Florida
2. College: Southern Missionary College (now Southern Adventist University)
3. How many grandchildren: 5
4. Favorite color: Purple
5. Favorite type of food: Italian
6. Favorite pet: Cat
7. Favorite Bible text: Philippians 4:11: “… For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (NIV).
8. Favorite way to exercise: Walking or tennis
9. Favorite past time with Dave: Walking our dogs, Milo and Snowball
10. Favorite thing to do with your family: Just being together and playing games together
11. Favorite book:  One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
12. Biggest fear: Can’t think of any…
13. What’s on your bucket list: To open a restaurant with my sister
14. Biggest lesson learned in life and leadership: You can never make everyone happy, so just do what is right and move on
15. What will it read on your tombstone someday: “She followed him to the ends of the earth!”