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Testimony of Dr. David Campbell

As a the third generation of dentists to serve Southern California with dental care at affordable prices through our multiple offices, our family has been extremely blessed with the honor of successfully serving hundreds of thousands of patients over the last 60 years. It may seem obvious that I would accept the honor of becoming a dentist and carrying on the family traditions, but this testimony tells a more trying story, a story of prosperity almost ending a tradition.

Because I grew up in such a successful family, my early years were blessed with all the comforts of life. I pursued happiness and success in the same manners as most young men. Experiments with intoxication and shallow friendships were common, but nonetheless, in high school, I still had some measure of success in life. I competed nationally in swimming and water polo, was in the choir, student body president, with good grades, and honored with a college scholarship.

As I left home for college, my poor choices in life began to inhibit my successes. As much as I knew resisting temptations would bring success, I couldn't find the strength. I am grateful for those trials now (though they led me to despair), for God was drawing me closer. I was raised to attend church and pray at meals. Yet, through Christian friends in Young Life, I learned to surrender my entire life to the service of Jesus Christ. Though life continues to challenge and try me, I carry my burdens to Christ, looking to the Bible and using prayer to guide my steps and seek wisdom for challenges. The consistency of my life in Christ is my new measure of success, and God has blessed me with more than I could have ever obtained with mere wealth, prominence, posterity, or even tradition.

Dr. Campbell's Personal Professional Mission Statement

Jesus Christ is the true and living God, the only God, and the creator of the universe. As such, through God's words found in the Bible, we must pursue humble excellence, compassion and justice at every opportunity. Jesus Christ's life was an example for all to follow. Jesus Christ not only taught people how to live good lives, but also spent much time healing and caring for those in need. Thus my role as a dentist is to emulate the compassionate delivery of dental care after the ministry of healing which was such an important part of Christ's life on earth. I invite you to consider surrendering your life to Jesus Christ. Life is best with Christ, not perfect here on earth, but best.

Jesus Christ was much more than a good example for us to follow. His life was perfect. In fact, He was the only person to ever live a perfect life. He left heaven to come to earth to be with us and join us in our difficult lives here on earth. Because we all don't live perfect lives, we shouldn't go to heaven. Heaven is also perfect and it would no longer be heaven if we went there. It wouldn't be right to put a person like me with all my mistakes and irregularities in heaven, and if we are honest, we all have plenty of baggage in our lives which certainly make our lives unworthy of promotion to heaven and an eternal life with God. All people are tempted to do things wrong and we make mistakes. Our mistakes invariably hurt other people. In all our lives there are people who can rightly say, "You shouldn't go to heaven, after what you have done to me, you don't deserve it."

But Jesus Christ made it possible for us to get to heaven, even though heaven is perfect and we are not. Jesus lived a perfect life for the purpose of paying the cost for each and every mistake we have made. He paid the cost by allowing Himself to be unjustly killed for you and I. Out of pure love for you and I, Jesus allowed Himself to be killed. What a crime, to kill the most loving and honest and wise person that the world has ever known! Jesus has offered to allow us to ride His coattails into heaven. We can't earn our way to heaven, but relying on Christ's ticket we are permitted to enter. The Bible says, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us. So that in Him we might become forgiven."

II Corinthians 5:21

When Jesus gave His life, God the father, was finally able to justly forgive. There was finally one person on earth worthy of forgiveness and access to heaven. Jesus gave his life to extend that access to us. We also may be forgiven because Jesus died for our mistakes and irregularities. In fact the sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for any sin. Christ sacrifice was so great that all may come to Him for forgiveness, even you.

But for Jesus Christ's work in my life, no amount of dental care or success or even love of my family would ultimately count for eternal good. Only Christ and His work through me in dentistry, in the community, and in my family has lasting significance.

God the Father sent his only son Jesus that we might have abundant life filled with the Holy Spirit. These three persons of God can be personally approached in prayer. This "One God" knows you and your mistakes, irregularities and your sins, and yet if you ask He will enter your life. Give your life to God's service, by accepting that Jesus Christ is our savior, and allow the Holy Spirit to work around you. God loves you and wants to help us in every detail of our lives. It is said that you should pray to offer everything you know of yourself to everything you know of God. He will bless you now and in eternity.

I would not have this glorious message for you, if not for those who spent the time and energy to share Christ's message to me. Initially, God spoke to me through the ministry of Young Life and presently my heart is kept on track by the ministry of Lake Avenue Congregational Church, the fellowship and ministry of Christian Medical & Dental Associations, and The Gathering of Men. God continually draws my heart, I pray for more opportunities and resources like this one. Another excellent opportunity has been working with the Fred Jordan Mission, the Los Angeles Mission and the Union Rescue Mission of downtown Los Angeles. I share these to encourage you, there is no greater work than the work of Christ in our lives, which God can accomplish despite our own weaknesses.