About
Pastor, husband, dad, and a guy who loves the Word.
Dave Tilma is the Lead Pastor at Blackhawk Ministries in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It’s a church family of every age, all about knowing Jesus and making Him known.
Dave’s story
How Dave got to Fort Wayne.
Dave was born in Canada and grew up in the Midwest. He gave his life to Jesus in junior high and felt called to full-time ministry. That call has shaped every season since.
He married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca, and graduated from the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. He spent his early ministry years with students and young adults. That’s where he fell in love with discipleship, and it still drives his preaching and leadership today.
In 2009, Dave and Rebecca moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to plant a church with Converge in a post-Christian city. Once the church was established and elders were in place, Dave took a call in 2015 to a growing multi-site city church in Milwaukee.
Today he’s the Lead Pastor at Blackhawk. He cares most about the authority of Scripture, a healthy local church, and helping ordinary people follow Jesus every day.
Give him good coffee, a great conversation, pickleball, a hike, a book, or the beach. Best of all is time with family. Dave and Rebecca have four kids.
“For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?”
— Psalm 18:31
Journey
The road so far.
Planting a church, leading across campuses, and now settled in as Blackhawk’s pastor.
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Early years
Called to ministry
Gave his life to Jesus in junior high and felt called to full-time ministry. Married Rebecca and got ready for ministry at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul.
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Student ministry
Students & young adults
Spent his first years as a pastor reaching and building up the next generation. It still shapes how Dave preaches and leads.
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2009
Church plant · Madison, WI
Planted a church with Converge in a post-Christian city, put elders in place, and helped it become a church that could stand on its own.
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2015
Multi-site · Milwaukee, WI
Served a growing multi-site city church and sharpened his gifts for preaching, developing leaders, and casting vision across campuses.
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Today
NowLead Pastor · Fort Wayne
Leads Blackhawk Ministries: teaching the Word, caring for people, and getting the church ready for mission in Fort Wayne and beyond.
Calling
Walking with people as they follow Jesus.
Whether he’s preaching, pastoring, or celebrating a baptism, Dave’s heart is for God’s Word and God’s people.
With Rebecca
Ministry is a family affair.
Rebecca serves alongside Dave as Blackhawk’s Director of Volunteer Ministries. She loves discipling women and helping them grow into their full potential in Jesus Christ. That calling took root during their church plant years in Madison, where she helped build the children’s and hospitality ministries from scratch.
Get in touch