Conference Articles

Continuing to feature some of our new and emergent leaders, Dan Davidson was asked to share about his call to ministry, his family and his testimony. Below are Dan Davidson's words:

Casey and I have been married for 5 years, but we have known each for about 10 years. We met each other at a high school that was located just outside of London, England. Casey’s father was in the Navy at that time, he has since retired, and my father is still active duty in the Air Force. Both of our fathers were stationed in England, which meant that we both attended the closest American high school. Casey is a year older so upon graduation from high school in 1998 she moved to Florida to attend college at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. I followed her a year later when I graduated in 1999.

At UNF Casey majored in Deaf Education and I majored in Philosophy and Religious Studies. During our time in college we were involved with several campus ministries as peer ministers including InterVarsity and Jacksonville Campus Ministry. Casey and I led meetings and bible studies at these organizations. I finished my college degree in three years so that I could graduate when Casey did. We both graduated in 2002 and we married that June. Casey then stayed at UNF in order to complete a M. Ed. in Special Education. During this time, Casey and I were Youth Pastors at a community church for 2 years. Then we left Jacksonville, FL for Durham, NC so that I could attend Duke Divinity School. I knew since high school that the Lord was calling me to ministry. Attending divinity school was the preparation that I was looking for prior to full time ministry.

At Duke, I spent my academic focus in Christian Ethics and my ministerial focus in discipleship. Christian Education and Discipleship is a passion of mine. I have taken as many opportunities as possible to explore ministry in this area. This has included leading bible studies for years, developing small groups and triads, and ministering as the pastor discipleship in a Wesleyan church in Durham, NC. I believe that disciples are formed by engaging in intentional relationships with God and others through everyday practices sanctified by the truth of his Word. The prayer of Jesus for his disciples in John 17:17 captures my heart on discipleship: “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.” Embracing the Wesleyan tradition has helped me unpack the importance of sanctification and its practical implications for the church. The call to “live holy lives for the Lord” is a message for this generation.

I am currently serving as Associate Pastor at Mountain View Free Methodist Community Church in Upland, CA. At Mountain View I will have the opportunity to serve in many different areas, including assisting in Sunday Worship, developing Small Groups and Triads, overseeing Leadership Development, and engaging in Community Outreach. I look forward to what the Lord has in store for us at Mountain View FMCC. I am grateful to be a part of the Southern California Free Methodist Conference.