David Gilleland

David Gilleland's ministry sits at an unusual intersection: the pulpit, the counseling room, and the military behavioral health system. That combination shapes everything he writes and teaches.

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As Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church of Coal City, David walked congregation members through crisis, loss, and the quiet despair that rarely gets spoken aloud on a Sunday morning. As an ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor, he brought structured, Scripture-grounded counseling to people the mental health system alone couldn't reach. And through his service in the Illinois Army National Guard and the Dept of the Army — including roles as Suicide Prevention Program Manager and certification as an ASIST Master Trainer — he has trained others to recognize the warning signs the church too often misses.

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That combined experience became Holding Hope: A Biblical Guide to Suicide Prevention for Church Leaders, a resource built for pastors who want to do more than offer condolences after a tragedy — who want to be equipped before one happens.

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Today, David continues that work through writing, speaking, and training, and through the Brother's Keeper Project, an Instagram-based effort to bring clear, non-generic suicide prevention content to church leaders and everyday believers alike.

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David is blessed to be the husband of Rejeana (26 years) and together they have five adult children. He is a proud Grandpa, cat dad, and permaculture enthusiast in his spare time.