Dr. Mike Davis (Bible ’92, Biblical Studies ’95 D. Min. ’08) has been working at Pensacola Christian College for 24 years, serving in various roles across campus. He first served on Bible faculty but has gone on to minister as Dean of Graduate Students, Administrative Director of Student Activities, and a Youth Outreach Ministry (YOM) Camp Administrator. Through his different ministries, Dr. Davis seeks ways to improve the student experience at PCC.
1. Before returning to PCC, you pastored for 15 years. What brought you back to PCC?
After serving as a church intern in college and graduate school, it was a privilege to serve as associate pastor for six years and senior pastor for nine years at Pine Forest Estates Baptist Church. Two and a half years before I returned to teach full-time in the College and Seminary, a long-time PCC Bible faculty member (Dr. Harry Nonnemacher) passed away during Christmas break. At his funeral, I reconnected with several friends at PCC. I was invited to apply for an adjunct faculty position in the seminary to teach expository preaching. During that time, the Lord grew a burden in my heart to work full-time with students preparing for the ministry. The Lord made it clear that He wanted me to return to PCC, and He opened the door for me to teach the next semester.
2. You came back as Bible faculty at PCC. What classes have you taught?
I have taught many different classes over 20 years. I always enjoyed teaching New Testament and Old Testament Survey. Of the Old Testament classes that I taught (Genesis, Life of David, Isaiah, and Minor Prophets), my favorite was either Life of David or Isaiah. That would have depended on which one I was teaching that semester. I have taught the Acts, I and II Timothy and Titus, I and II Thessalonians, Hebrews and James, and Revelation classes in the New Testament. I and II Timothy and Titus was my favorite New Testament class. In addition to Bible classes, I have taught Baptist Distinctives, Church Trends and Changes, Church History, History of Fundamentalism and New Evangelicalism, Pastoral Theology, Introduction to Biblical Counseling, Biblical Counseling 1&2, Management: Programming the Local Church, Homiletics, and Expository Preaching. In the biblical languages area, I have taught Greek Exegesis, Elementary Hebrew, and Hebrew Exegesis.
3. A few years ago, you transitioned to being Dean of Graduate Students. What does that role entail?
In my role as Dean of Graduate Students, I provide leadership for the GA (graduate assistant) and graduate student programs in collaboration with Employee Services and college academics. My team and I promote the GA program, coordinate GA training, foster graduate student culture and development, and help GAs and graduate students find workable solutions to their work, academic, and interpersonal challenges. Practically, we try to be a one-stop shop for graduate students to get the answers they need. We are always looking for ways to improve the graduate student experience. By position description, my role is to be a GA advocate. My team’s goal is to have each student leave our offices in better shape than when they came.
4. What motivates you in your role as Dean of Graduate Students?
When I was in graduate school and seminary, I was taught that “ministry takes place within the context of relationships.” I believe that working with students is a ministry. Most situations can be handled by stopping to listen to what students have to say. I also want them to know that we care. It is a good day when we can find solutions together.
5. During the summer, you serve as YOM Camp Administrator. When did you become interested in YOM camps, and how did you begin your ministry there?
As a pastor, I led our church to start a Good News Club in one of our local elementary schools. Youth evangelism has always held a special place in my heart. When I came back to teach Bible at PCC 10 years ago, I was given the opportunity to work at Sports Center Day Camp (SCDC) in the summers. I had already worked six summers at SCDC before I became a pastor. By the end of that first summer back, the camp director position opened. I was excited to get the chance to work with college students and the campers in a new position. The opportunity to be part of discipling college students and showing them how to do ministry made camp an amazing opportunity. After five years, Covid created the need to start another day camp at Pensacola Christian Academy (Discover Day Camp). The Lord opened the door the next summer for me to work with all the YOM Camps. My heart for camp continued to grow as I saw the Lord work through camp speakers and college students to see hundreds of campers accept Christ each summer.
6. You also serve as Administrative Director for the Student Activities Office. What does the Student Activities Office do? And how does your role affect the ways Student Activities works on campus?
The Student Activities Office works to provide the best college experience for PCC students by organizing events that encourage students’ growth through student programs, collegians, student ministry, and outings. My role involves helping keep the big picture of who we are at PCC front and center for our team as we look for opportunities to teach biblical values through life situations. I challenge our team to use shared experiences and the regular flow of information on campus as opportunities for influence.
7. What is one thing Student Activities does that you’re excited about?
Student Activities provides opportunities for students to grow personally. I get excited when I hear about the success of students who have been out on Christian Service. I get excited when students successfully plan a class party or a members-only outing. I love the energy that students have when they come into the office to meet with our staff or report on a meeting. I love that Student Activities fosters community.
8. What is your best advice for students who want to get more involved around campus?
Sign up to participate in an activity today. You can always come up with some excuse for why an activity doesn’t work in your schedule, and it is true that you cannot do everything. The hardest part for most people is taking the first step. Change your perspective by doing something that you have never done before. Join a Christian Service, ask your collegian president if there is anything you can do to help, try out for a sports team, run for office, or volunteer for a service project. You will gain experience, and chances are that you will meet some new people. You never know, you might just meet your new best friend when you try something new.
9. With so much to do, how do you balance your various roles and family?
I have learned and am still learning that balance is essential to longevity in ministry. You have to take stock on a regular basis of what is most important. God is first, family is second, and ministry is third. Having said that, I don’t want to make it sound like ministry is last. There are times when ministry requires devotion and significant amounts of time. My family has been gracious, and I have learned how to make better use of time. I work on creating blocks of time to get tasks accomplished, and I am attempting to show others how to be productive and still have a life. Early in ministry, I worked from sunup to sundown. It took several years to learn how to prioritize time. Today, I am better at setting expectations, taking time to enjoy grandkids, delegating, focusing, working hard, and relaxing. I find that I am more productive when I follow a schedule than when I just try to work hard.
10. What are some places in Pensacola you and your family enjoy?
We enjoy going to the Maritime Park by the Wahoo’s stadium. It can be fun to go downtown and get something to eat and then take it over to the park. In the summertime, I like going to Johnson Beach on a rainy day to sit under the pavilion and watch a storm come in. At Christmas time, we enjoy driving around the East Hill area to look at Christmas lights. We also enjoy taking a short drive for 30 minutes or so get out of town. Our whole Northwest Florida region is full of southern towns and rural areas that feel like home.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.