I am John Davis, husband of Tiffany, father of Gracie (5) and Luke (3). Originally from Georgia, we moved to Waco in 1999 to accept a tenure-track position as a professor in Baylor’s Department of Mathematics. We consider ourselves blessed to be a part of the Baylor academic and faith community and the First Woodway family. The past 13 years have certainly flown by!
This year I became involved with the college ministry at First Woodway. The college years are a unique period for students to expand their intellectual and spiritual horizons. It is during this time that many students wrestle with very profound questions about what they believe, why they believe it, and how those beliefs affect their day-to-day lives as well as the overall purpose of their lives.
Thankfully, Baylor offers a unique environment in which to engage students on topics like these, so I’ve had many discussions with students on “discipleship of the mind” topics such as apologetics. Broadly speaking, Christian apologetics aims to provide rational explanations of why the Christian faith is true, how we can know it is true, and aims to answer the call of I Peter 3:15 to “…always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…” as well as Christ’s instruction “…to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37).
It is important for Christian students to understand why their faith and worldview are rational and reasonable–to have reasons for what they believe and why they believe them, especially in a culture that is increasingly dismissive or even hostile toward the Gospel. In that sense, students who give serious thought to nontrivial questions about God are in a position to serve as salt and light to the college world. Together with several of my Baylor colleagues, we hold discussion groups each semester in Heritage Hall on topics ranging from arguments for the existence of God to the problem of evil (how can a good God allow bad things to happen?) to the uniqueness of Christianity. I certainly don’t claim to have all of the answers, but I enjoy thinking and learning about these things.
I have really liked working with some great First Woodway college guys in small group discipleship this academic year. It has been a blessing getting to know them, where they are in life, and how they love the Lord. I have learned way more from them than they have from me, and I look forward to us continuing to grow in grace together.