When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the homeless mission he pastored in Savannah, Georgia, Brandon Davis told the Lord he would “go anywhere you need me.” That commitment led him to Booneville, Kentucky, population 161, where “the Lord has really blessed.”
He’s the bivocational pastor of Booneville First Baptist Church, where more than 20 baptisms have been recorded in the last 15 months. Church attendance was about 12 people when he and his wife, Jenny, arrived in September 2020. Now the church is averaging 49 people as well as ranking third in 2022 and fourth in 2023 among Kentucky Baptist Convention churches in missions participation (based on ratio of missions participation to average worship attendance).
Despite being in a small community, Davis said “we have the biggest missions field in our own back yard,” noting the majority of the attending the church live within Owsley County, with a population of just under 4,000.
“People had just not been going to church,” Davis observed. He takes every advantage to strike up conversations with people, saying he employs the “wiggle” method.
He noted, “It’s like a loose tooth — you have to wiggle it for a while. I will have multiple conversations with people to build rapport with them,” all with the purpose of sharing the gospel and encouraging people to attend church. Also, he and two friends have started a program called “Hush Up and Pray,” which airs Sundays at 1 p.m. on Mountain Gospel Radio (WMTC, eastern Kentucky’s largest locally-owned southern gospel radio station).
‘It’s not me’
Davis is quick to point out that “it’s not me, it’s the good Lord. It’s about reflecting the love He has shown to us and helping people see the brighter spot in an area where there is a lot of darkness.”
Davis is transparent when he describes his interactions with people.
“I am just a sinner saved by grace — that is my attitude. I am someone who what you see is what you get. I don’t put on a facade. I have had plenty of struggles in my younger days. I can advocate to someone. I have been there — when you didn’t have money to feed the family. I have been in the places where a lot of younger people are having struggles. I try to be as relatable as possible, and I try to nurture the children. If you can get kids to church, they will bring the parents with them. And they will come back and bring friends and they will bring friends.”
First Baptist offers multiple ministry services to its community, and Davis looks for opportunities to engage people of all ages. He is the public address announcer for the local basketball team, and spends time in restaurants talking to people.
As director of Emergency Medical Services in Menifee County and the 911 coordinator in Owsley County, Davis said his wife is a great ministry helper.
“I cannot tell you how much she does in missions work and in being seen in the community,” he said. “She is the backbone of that part of my ministry and she does a tremendous amount. My wife has always been there to pick up the slack.”
Davis jokes that God’s call to move from Georgia to eastern Kentucky took him to Google Maps, where he needed three times to find Booneville. But he and Jenny have seen God’s faithfulness.
She wrote on a recent Facebook post, “We have many, many new members at church since we came hear four years ago next month. We have new families, we have several families that have come back and rejoined the church after leaving years ago. We have plenty of people that are very involved and have been for several years now and what a blessing! We have more than enough people to spread these jobs at church out and let some others fulfill their wishes to serve the church and give back. What a blessing! We have a vast group at church that runs from 3 years old to 93. What a blessing! We love our senior members and we love our youth! They are the bookends to the members at church that are hungry and ready to serve in any way they can. What a blessing! We are large and loud and brimming with love and faith to share with you and you are welcome. Always!”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chip Hutcheson and originally published by Kentucky Today.
