Pastor Hal

Dallas Bible Church is truly blessed to have Hal Habecker as Senior Pastor. Hal loves the Lord, loves people, and has a servant's heart so far as both are concerned. Hal has served as the Pastor at Dallas Bible Church (DBC), since 1993, and has been instrumental in the church's vision “to build a passionate, LIFE-transforming community reaching our world for Christ.”

Passions and Dreams

If you asked Hal about his passion, you would hear that he longs to see Christ formed in the life of every person who is a part of Dallas Bible Church. And his dream is that Dallas Bible Church would experience its vision – ‘to be a passionate, life-transforming community, reaching our world for Christ.’ On this point, he says,

"My vision is that God will change us, change our hearts, and change the way we live. I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit God will give us a passion for living for Christ – a people whose hearts are completely His. My vision is that we would be that kind of church in this immediate community – touching the lives of people in our neighborhoods and in our local schools. At the same time I believe God calls us to do our part in reaching the world – literally – for the cause of Christ. My vision is that DBC will be a people of dynamic and growing faith – a passionate community that creates ripples and waves around the world for the glory of Christ.”

Hal's life verse is Colossians 1.28 & 29;

“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”

And one of his favorite quotes is from New Testament scholar Leon Morris; “It is God’s plan that His people become like His Son – not that they should muddle along in modest respectability.” (Romans, p.353).

Simple Pleasures

Anyone who knows Hal, knows that he enjoys three things: his wife, books, and cycling. Hal and Vicki, truly enjoy their life together. They love skiing, and traveling – especially to Italy. Hal also finds great joy in everyday things. As he says,

"Riding my bicycle is a pleasure – just to get on the road, imagining I was riding the Tour de France over the Alps. My bike is my 'prayer closet' and my 'think chamber.' My other escape is books – constantly learning about the world God gave us."

 

Hal's Story

Hal was born in Hershey, PA, and he grew up on a dairy farm, the fourth born of six children. Through the strong influence of godly Christian parents and a strong Bible-teaching church, he trusted Christ at the age of six. He attended college at Taylor University, IN. Through a divinely-orchestrated missionary experience in Haiti, God then led him to Dallas Seminary (Th.M.). Hal later completed further studies in theology and medical ethics and received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Denver Seminary (D.Min.). While at seminary in Dallas he met, fell in love with and married his beautiful wife, Vicki, and God blessed them with three great children.

Prior to accepting the position of pastor at DBC, Hal served 14 years with the Christian Medical & Dental Society (CMDS) in the roles of Regional Director, Field Staff Director, and General Director. CMDS is a national organization that spearheads a “guild church” ministry to physicians and dentists through the spiritual disciplines of discipleship and evangelism. Prior to that he served for five years on the adult ministry staff of First Baptist Church, Dallas.

Hal and Vicki reside in Plano, TX. Their oldest daughter, Jennifer, is married to Mark McWilliams, and they live in Healdsburg, CA. Bethany, their second daughter, and Jonathan, both live and work in Dallas.