BISHOP KWAME LANCE DAVIS
Although he loved Christ from a young age and knew instinctively that he wanted to serve Him for the rest of his life, it was not until 1991 that Lance Davis received a call to Christian ministry. He began his vocation by serving faithfully under the leadership of the Rev. Craig Melvin Smith at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, then under Bishop Henry M. Williamson at Carter Temple C.M.E. Church, also in Chicago. In 1994, Lance Davis was assigned by Bishop Doty I. Isom to serve as pastor of the J. Claude Allen CME Church (JCA) in Dixmoor, Illinois. He began his pastorate with a small congregation of 45 active members and an annual operating budget of $35,000.
It soon became evident that God had greater plans for J. Claude Allen CME. During Bishop Davis’s tenure, the membership grew to nearly 1,000 members with an annual operating budget of half a million dollars. Many attributed the enormous growth the JCA ministry achieved to Bishop Davis’s unwavering love and commitment to God, coupled with natural business acumen—he was the product of two entrepreneurial parents.
At JCA, Bishop Davis launched an exemplary One Church One School program in the south suburbs, starting at Rosa Parks Middle School in Dixmoor. This program became a model for other community churches that wanted to improve students’ success by becoming more involved and “adopting” a neighborhood school. In a few short years, JCA had partnered with 7 area schools and had a roster of more than 40 active volunteers. This strong community focus led to the development of two dynamic mentoring ministries at JCA—the Boys to Men Breakfast Ministry and the Essence Ministry for Girls. These ministries provided a means for men and women to offer much-needed guidance to the youth residing in the south suburban communities.
While serving at J. Claude Allen CME, Bishop Davis also instituted a Rites of Passage summer program. Nearly 150 children were given the opportunity to spend 4 days in the wilderness where they learned the importance of living a life of integrity and Christian character as they transitioned into adulthood.
After achieving such (formerly unimaginable) heights at JCA, it was time for Bishop Davis to transition into his next phase of Christian service. In 2003, he would establish the New Zion Christian Fellowship in Dolton, Illinois. Launching his new ministry with nearly 200 people, New Zion Christian Fellowship has grown to a membership of well over 500 committed, caring and loving congregants—with a strong emphasis on the disciplines of worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and the mission of evangelism.
Bishop Davis remains the Senior Pastor of New Zion Christian Fellowship and is the presiding Bishop of More Like Christ Christian Fellowship, under the pastoral leadership of the Reverend Mitty Collier. Bishop Davis is also the father of other ministers such as Reverend Keith Williams, the pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, and Reverend Ronnie Lee, the pastor of Nehemiah Christian Center. In addition to the ministries in the United States, Bishop Davis supports international ministries in Haiti, lead by Pastor Lumond Johnson of New Zion Christian Fellowship and in Ghana, West Africa headed by Bishop Davis, himself.
Because he has a heart for the community and for his people, Bishop Davis is known and respected throughout Illinois and the United States as a dedicated and proactive community advocate and problem-solver. He is the founder and vice president of the South Suburban Faith-Based Initiative (SSFBI), an organization committed to reaching and reinforcing the family unit, with a specific mission of protecting vulnerable children from the negative influences of society. He is also the founder of Building Our Own Community, Inc. (BOOC), a community based not-for-profit agency, which is established in the United States and in Africa. BOOC currently has successful food programs, a youth summer work program, a summer camp and an after-school program.
Along with the non-profit ventures, Bishop Davis established a West African company known as Sankofa Ventures Management, Inc. This company was established to create job opportunities and to improve the overall living conditions in Ghanaian communities. Every February, Bishop Davis returns to Ghana with investors for the annual Sankofa Tour of Ghana, West Africa and the businesses under the Sankofa Ventures Management, Inc. umbrella (Akoben Mining & Energy, Co., Infinity Mining, Co., Sankofa Saltfield, Co., Trans Atlantic Power & Water, Co., and more). These entities are purposed to assist Ghana in meeting the 2015 Millennium goals of providing fresh potable, parasite-free drinking water at all areas and to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Due to the many years of dedication, fortitude and success, the walls in Bishop Davis’s office are covered with various awards and plaques attesting to his tireless, extensive work in the community and abroad. His most recent honor is the Chicago Defender Pastor’s Salute presented to Bishop Davis in September 2011. He has a Pauline anointing whereby he works with his hands outside of and in addition to his ministerial call.
Bishop Lance Davis is married to Dr. Kara Davis, the lovely author and physician and they have four beautiful children: Grace, Andrew, Lance Nathaniel, and Natalie.