Our Founders - Pastor David and Pamela Knapp

David and Pamela met in 1993 during high school. David was a local to the small town of Melrose, Florida while Pamela was a foreign exchange student from a sophisticated metropolitan city in Chile. Pastor David describes their meeting as, “love at first sight”.  The two dated and traveled back and forth from Florida to Chile several times to visit each other until they were married in 1997. While living in Melrose, Pamela worked at a local bank while also attending college and David worked in land surveying and repairing and shaping surfboards. In those years they spent most of their free time fishing and surfing. David’s parents were great examples of how to follow Jesus and brought David and his siblings to church every week and encouraged us in the faith; however, during his teenage years, David walked away from God. David’s idea of following Jesus was that you had to wear a suit and tie and act a little weird. David didn’t want any part of religion. 

After being married for about two years, David and Pamela were invited to a Hispanic church in Orange Park, Florida called “Fuente de Luz y Salvación.” It was at this church were God allowed David and Pamela to understand the gospel! They would drive one and a half hours, one way to attend this church. They enjoyed the fellowship and the teaching. It was here during the preaching of God’s word when both David and Pamela felt like God was calling them to give their lives in service to Him. Shortly after, they began attending a church closer to their home and served as leaders in the children’s and youth ministries. In 2002, David and Pamela believed God was calling them to prepare for the mission field. By this time, they had traveled several times to Costa Rica and believed God was calling them to plant a church in Playa Jacó. Knowing they both needed training, they began attending Trinity Bible College near Tampa, Florida. Pamela graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Leadership in Ministry and David graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Cross Cultural Ministry. 

David and Pamela moved to Playa Jaco, Costa Rica directly after their graduation from Trinity Bible College in 2006 with a clear vision to plant a church. Their first-born son, Josiah, was only 3 years old and Pamela was expecting their second child while they began to establish themselves in this beautiful beach town. While living out of suitcases in a small, rented apartment, they searched for a home to buy. They began to host church services near the beach under a mango tree and their ministry began! When their second born son, Josue, was born God provided a home to purchase for their growing family.

In 2007, the ministry expanded into a commercial center and began hosting weekly services for adults and children. The church ministry was growing and so was their family. In 2008, David and Pamela gave birth to their daughter, Lidia. As the parents of 3 young children with a growing ministry, the Knapp’s continued to pray and seek God to further their vision to minister to people in Jaco.

Over the next 10 years, Radical Life Ministries purchased land and built multiple permanent structures for weekly church services, children’s and youth ministry, international mission teams, and community outreach events. Additionally, God confirmed David and Pamela’s passion to equip and train leaders for work in the ministry. This led the Knapp’s to fundraise and purchase additional property to build a Bible Institute for adults and a children’s Christian Academy. Today, the ministry is thriving with a healthy, growing church, and the construction of the institute and academy. David and Pamela’s three children Josiah, Josue, and Lidia are teenagers and exploring their interests and continuing their schooling. 

In 2020, the Knapp family temporarily relocated to the United States, Florida, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a trying time for ministries across the world. Radical Life Ministries was truly blessed to adapt and overcome the obstacles the pandemic created. Their local team jumped into action and hosted online services and continued the ministry on the ground. They were able to serve families that were impacted by the pandemic and continue God’s work in Jaco. Meanwhile, while in the US, David and Pamela were able to lead their ministry efforts with the help of technology while networking and building their network of support in the States. 

They are excited for the future as God continues to use them to bring more people to Salvation through Jesus Christ!