SEJ-BMCR Closing Sermon "Its Time to Wake Up" Rev DeLisha Davis Pastor of Calloway UMC Virginia Conference

The Reverend DeLishia Andrea Davis is the distinguished pastor of Calloway United Methodist Church in Arlington, Virginia. She was born in the nation’s capital and has lived in several areas of the United States of America and abroad for the purpose of religious education and evangelism. Rev. Davis has been formally educated in the areas of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Political Science, and Christian Education. She is a fifth generational clergyperson in her family, and she has served in international missions and local church ministries for twenty-two years. Pastor DeLishia A. Davis a national board member of People for the American Way Inc., raising awareness for social justice and voter education. She is also the chaplain of the National Council of Negro Women, a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, African American Ministers Leadership Council and the National Council of Churches. Pastor DeLishia currently serves as a senior pastor in the Methodist tradition. Also, she has served as an international missions evangelist in South Africa, West Africa, Haiti and Honduras. Rev. Davis is the recipient of numerous awards to include the Sojourner’s Award from the International Missionary Society (2009), the Rosa Parks Community Service Award from the Methodist Council (2011) and the Humanitarian Award from the NAACP (2019). Rev. Davis is the founder of New Beginnings, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to domestic violence victims and their families in times of need in the Washington, DC Metropolitan office. Pastor Davis ministers weekly at the domestic violence shelter, and frequently advocates for victims in Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Prince George’s Counties. In addition, Rev. DeLishia Davis is the coordinator of Prayer ministries and she travels throughout the nation to preach, teach and encourage others. She is also the author of several books to include Word of Life Family Bible Study, A New You: 21 Days of Personal Transformation and Spiritual Success. The latest book “Morning Manna”will be released in May 2021. Pastor Davis is the mother of Maya Alexis and Mycah Alexandrea Davis. Her favorite quote is “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”Her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”