My Personal Testimony - Pastor John Davis
I accepted Jesus Christ to be my personal Savior on Sunday evening, June 9, 1974. I was six years of age listening to a message given by my grandfather (Harlan Fulks) who was the pastor of People's Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. It was that night when I understood my need for Jesus Christ. During the invitation song, I asked my dad (Dr. Bill Davis) to go with me to the front of the church and show me how to be saved. I gladly accepted the Lord that evening and have never regretted that decision. The following Sunday evening, I followed the Lord in believer's baptism not for salvation, but to be obedient as a new believer.
My father was the associate pastor of that church at that time. Three years later, he accepted a position at Ludlow Hill Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg, IN. It would be there that I would spend the remainder of my childhood through the first two years of marriage. In this church, I learned to serve the Lord and was used in many different areas such as Sunday School teacher, junior church director, youth leader, deacon, etc.
I attended Calvary Christian School in Taylor Mill, KY and received a diploma in 1986. In 1982, however, God called me to be a pastor. I was a freshman in high school at that time and I had seen the many struggles that my dad (my pastor) went through as a pastor. I chose to run from God's call and for the next four years, I pursued the sport of baseball. Through several failed attempts, the doors closed.
I chose to attend Tennessee Temple University (under Dr. Don Jennings) and entered my freshman year as a business major. In the Spring of 1987 during a Bible Conference, God called me again to be a pastor and I submitted to His call. (Praise God for second chances) The following day, I went and changed my major and began serving the Lord full time in ministry. It was there that I pastored my first church in the chapel ministry, Jumpoff Baptist Church in Sewanee, TN on Monteagle Mountain . I thank the Lord for the honor of serving such wonderful people.
I prayed that God would send me a godly woman to be my wife and I met her (Stephanie Biggers) in 1987 the semester after I accepted God's call to pastor. After several years of getting to know each other, we were married in 1993 in Lawrenceburg, IN.
I would leave Tennessee Temple University in 1992 without graduating mostly due to finances. I would later pursue the remainder (1 year) of my university and seminary education through Bethany Bible College and Theological Seminary. I graduated from the university in 1999 and the seminary in 2000.
I was ordained in August of 2000 and would then pursue an internship at Calvary Baptist Church in Latonia, KY under the leadership of Dr. Charles Wagner. After one year, God led us to serve there full time for three additional years serving in the men's ministry, children's church, an after-school program, 2's & 3's program, nursing home ministry, widows ministry, and teaching a young marred couples Sunday School class. We praise the Lord for the many souls saved and for the honor of working with many wonderful Christian brothers and sisters.
God blessed us with two precious daughters after several years of praying. Sadly, we have lost four children to miscarriage and we will see them soon. Both of our daughters have received Christ and we praise the Lord for them. They each have shared with us their heart to serve the Lord.
From November 2004 through May of 2011, I pastored Lindale Baptist Church in Amelia, OH. I praise the Lord for all of the wonderful work that He accomplished there. He won 226 people to Himself, added 7 missionaries to the support of the church, and worked through the ministries started there. As with any church, there were struggles, but God saw us through each one. In May 2011, we felt the Lord leading us away from Lindale, and so I resigned. For three years we waited for Him to move in our lives. We continued to serve Him in our time of waiting and candidating in several churches.
In May of 2014, God began moving His hand in which He would have us candidate here at Faith Baptist Church. For us, it was love at first visit and God would soon call us here. In July of 2014, we unpacked our trucks and began serving Him here in Louisiana, Missouri. We are looking forward to seeing what He is going to do in the ministry here at FBC. It is such an honor to serve such wonderful people.
As you can see, God has been good to us. It is hard to imagine why God would choose to use me, but I am so grateful He is doing so. I look forward to see what He has in store for me and my family and our church, as we follow His will for us. I also look forward to the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Until then, may He find us faithful to Him. Please pray for us!
Fun Facts About Pastor Davis
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Baseball Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite Flavor: Chocolate
Height: 5' 4 1/2" (the 1/2 inch is very important - he was taller when he had hair)
Weight: Forget it!
Favorite Candy: Tie - Between Peanut M&Ms and Almond Joy Candy Bars
Favorite Cookie: Chocolate with Chocolate Chips
Most Embarrassing Moment in Ministry: Preaching with a Cricket Trapped in His Shirt
Hobbies: Playing Guitar, Sports Video Games
Favorite Movie: Facing the Giants
Favorite TV Show: Andy Griffith Show
Favorite Book (Apart from the Bible): The Soulwinner's Fire by John R. Rice
Spiritual Heroes: Papaw (Rev. Harlan Fulks), Dad (Dr. Bill Davis), Dr. Lee Roberson
Other Heroes: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Papaw (John W. Davis, Sr. - WWII, Korean Wars)
Life Verse: Romans 1:16
Favorite Bible Character (other than the Lord): Joshua