Our Pastor

And how shall they hear without a preacher - Romans 10:14

AN INTRODUCTION

Reginald F. Davis, Pastor of the Historic First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Virginia holds a Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in New York and a Doctorate in Humanities, with a concentration in African American Studies from Florida State University. Pastor Davis received his Bachelor of Art degree from the Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas. He has served as the Dean of Students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

Dr. Davis has also served on the faculties of Barry University and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. In 2004 the Journal of Religious Thought accepted publication of his article titled "African American Interpretation of Scripture." He is author of the groundbreaking work, "Frederick Douglass: Precursor of Liberation Theology" (Mercer University Press 1, 2005). Dr. Davis’ writings on Frederick Douglass are contained in an anthology called "Empire and the Christian Tradition, (Portess Press, 2007).

He is also the author of the much discussed work titled, "The Black Church Relevant or Irrelevant in the 21st Century”(Smyth & Helwys , 2010), and the recently acclaimed “Bible Study for Busy Pastors and Ministers” (Wipf & Stock, 2011), ready-made lessons to transform members into disciples and an audience into an army. His most recent work, "From Wall Street To Main Street - Why America is Being Destroyed from Within" (Wipf and Stock, 2013), challenges us as a country to find our moral compass again, and make God central in our nation. "A Dangerous Journey: Those Who Become Jesus’ Disciples:" (Christian Publishing House, 2017) discusses what it means to be a disciple and follow a dangerous revolutionary who often comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. "Transforming Faith To Shape the World Around Us!" was published in 2019. 

"God's Truth to Youth in a World Full of Lies and Deception" is the title of his latest work, which serves as a GPS and encourages youth to follow God's Path to Success and be an example to their generation. It is a spiritual atlas to help them navigate the maze of life and be a joyful, peaceful, prosperous, and godly person. 

Dr. Davis is affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, the American Baptist Churches of the South, American Academy of Religion, the NAACP, Ministers' Alliance and Business Operating Self Support (BOSS) in Memphis, Tennessee. Pastor Davis has been a frequent radio guest in Memphis, Tennessee, and lectures at colleges, universities, and churches across the nation. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Having previously served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in North Chicago, he was installed on March 7, 2004 as the 21st pastor of The Historic First Baptist Church. Pastor Davis currently resides in Williamsburg, Virginia with his wife Myrlene Petit-Frere Davis and three children, Isaac, Nandi and Joel.