Our Founder

Dr. Don Davis

Rev. Dr. Don Davis, ordained minister and native of Wichita, Kansas, is the Founder and Director of World Impact's Urban Ministry Institute - a research and training center dedicated to equipping leaders and empowering movements for the urban church,
especially among the poor to advance the Kingdom of God in the city.

Dr. Davis attended Wheaton College and Wheaton Graduate School and graduated
summa cum laude in both his B.A. (1998) and M.A. (1989) degrees in Biblical Studies
and Systematic Theology. He earned his Ph.D. in Religion (Theology and Ethics) from
the University of Iowa School of Religion (2000). Don and his wife, Beth, joined the staff
of World Impact in the fall of 1975, and has served as a community minister, the Director
of World Impact Wichita, and as Vice President of Education. He also served in pastoral
ministries as a church planter, an associate pastor, and lead pastor.

In addition to his current duties as the Institute's Executive Director and as a professor
in its Hope School of Ministry, Dr. Davis serves as a Senior Vice President of World
Impact. He oversees the training of urban missionaries, church planters, and city
pastors. He facilitates training opportunities for urban Christian workers in evangelism,
church growth, and pioneer missions; as well as leads the Institute's extensive distance
learning programs. In addition to all this, Dr. Davis facilitates leadership development
efforts for organizations and denominations like Prison Fellowship, the Evangelical Free
Church of America, and the Church of God in Christ.

A recipient of numerous teaching and academic awards, Dr. Davis has served as a
professor and faculty member at a number of fine academic institutions, having
lectured and taught courses in religion, theology, philosophy, and biblical studies
at schools such as Wheaton College, St. Ambrose University, the Houston Graduate
School of Theology, the University of Iowa School of Religion, and the Robert E. Webber
Institute of Worship Studies.

Dr. Davis has authored a number of books, curricula, and study materials to equip
urban leaders, including the Capstone Curriculum, TUMI's premiere 16 module
distance education seminary instruction.

Dr. Davis has participated in academic lectureships such as the Staley Lecture series, renewal conferences like the Promise Keeper rallies, and theological consortiums like the University of Virginia Lived Theology Project Series. Dr. Davis received the Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award from the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2009. He is also a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion.