GREG DAVIS HAS MINISTERED TO THOUSANDS OF KIDS.
In 1969, two ladies knocked at the door of Greg Davis’ house. They asked his mother if Greg and his sister could come to Forest Park Church of God. “I think my mom was excited about a babysitting service, to be honest with you. So, she let us get on the church bus. That has been an unbelievable blessing in my life.” That is the first time that I actually even heard of who Jesus Christ was because no one in my family was saved or went to church, or anything like that….I asked the Lord into my heart and accepted Christ at age 16.”
After going down some varied paths in his life, Greg and his wife, Billie Jo, returned to the church which had changed its’ name to Plant City Church of God—42 years ago. “I knew we were back home again.” He began teaching the third grade through fifth grade boys’ Sunday School class, and did so for 10 years. Then he started volunteering in the children’s ministry. Greg worked under five different children’s pastors as they came and went. The last one of these approached Greg to offer him the role to children’s pastor. “I said ‘No.’ I didn’t like the idea. I was always the behind-the-scenes guy—the puppet director, Buttons the Clown—all the fun stuff that the kids liked. I went home and talked to my wife about it, and we prayed about it.” The next night he agreed to step into the position for six months. “That was 31 years ago,” Greg said laughing. “So, it has been a long six months….I couldn’t have done this without Billie Jo.” For all of these years, his role has been, “Full-time hours, part-time pay.”
In line with his creative bent, Greg started Spring Extreme at the church—a program unlike any other in the area—that was held during spring break. Greg thought it would have a short life of a couple of years, but the program was so popular, it continued for 28 years. They came up with really huge themes and accompanying sets that would take many hands and many days to build. “It was way over the top,” Greg said. For example, one year they had a Hawaiian theme with a 15-foot volcano that spewed smoke that the kids walked through to enter the building. The event commonly brought out 250 kids.
“I think some people look at children’s ministry as a babysitting service. One thing that I have always done is minister to these kids. We are not going to throw a movie on, or tell them a little story, or anything like that. On Sunday mornings, we would really pour into the messages, the object lessons, the music, the games, the fun stuff that we would do—not just sit and teach them for an hour and a half, but really make it fun and exciting.”
“It is bittersweet that I am retiring,” Greg said. “I told the lead pastor, ‘If I ever pull into the parking lot and dread going in, I know it is time to pass the torch.’ Well, that has never happened. I still, to this day, love it; love the kids, love the ministry. That is why it is a little bit tough. But I also know at my age it is time to pass the torch.”
Greg is not retiring to sit and rot. He is moving to a new role at the church as the pastor of the seniors. He will also continue to lead their family business, Pelican’s SnoBalls. The church is holding a celebration service and dinner for Greg’s retirement on Sunday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m.
