Collection 591 [June 29, 2010]
Davis, Gregory M.; 1962-
Papers; 1987-2008
Audio cassette tapes (.075 cubic feet)
1 legal document case (.5 cubic feet)
Restrictions: None
Brief Description. This collection contains prayer letters of Gregory and Lori Davis, missionaries and church planters with LIFE ministries (now Asian Access) in Japan. The collection also consists of oral history interviews in which Gregory Davis discusses: his family background; spiritual development; children names in Japan; the 1972 Billy Graham Cleveland crusade; his conversion and transformation of his life; choosing LIFE ministries; teaching English as Christian outreach in Japan; learning the Japanese language; differences between Japanese and American cultures; Christian conversion in Japan; missionary children and education; change of leadership with LIFE ministries; Douglas Birdsall; working with the Japan Church Growth Institute (JCGI); evangelism and church planting in Japan; planting fully independent Japanese churches; differences and similarities of Japanese and American churches; raising a family on the mission field; Japan Evangelical Missions Association; challenges and goals of church planting; lessons from the Japanese church
Biography
| Full name | Gregory Marion Davis | |
| Birth | October 17, 1962 in Marietta, Ohio | |
| Family | ||
| Parents | James Marion and Brenda Ruth Davis | |
| Siblings | Jeffrey Todd (older brother) | |
| Marital Status | Married Lori Marie Conant | |
| Children | Matthew Wesley, Stephen Elliott | |
| Conversion | 1979 at age of 17, with influence from mentors at church | |
| Education | ||
| 1982 | Graduated from Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute, in Wooster, Ohio, USA was a degree in Nursery and Garden Center Management | |
| 1994 | Graduated from Columbia International University, Columbia, South Carolina, USA with a degree in General Ministries | |
| 2003-2004 | Graduated Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Illinois, USA with a.M.A. in Intercultural Studies | |
| Career | ||
| 1987-1989 | Worked with LIFE Ministries, English teaching at Shiki Church, Niiza City, Japan and Yamaga Church in Yamaga City, Japan | |
| 1990-1992 | Summer Mission Training Director with LIFE Ministries, Japan | |
| 1994-1996 | Language Study, Japan | |
| 1996-1999 | Church Planting with LIFE Ministries, Kaminoyama, Japan | |
| 1999-2003 | Church Planting with LIFE Ministries, Obanazawa, Japan | |
Scope and Content
Greg Davis was interviewed by Paul Ericksen on November 11 & 18, 2003 at the office of the BGC Archives. The events described in the interview cover the time period 1962-2003.
T1 (98 minutes). Family background; spiritual development; importance of naming children in Japan; his nominal Christian faith; 1972 Billy Graham Cleveland crusade; conversion and transformation of life; love of gardening; ministry with wife early in marriage; visiting Taiwan and Japan; exploring call to missions; choosing LIFE ministries; teaching English as church outreach in Japan; learning the Japanese language; differences between Japanese and American cultures; leading short-term teams; working with Japanese churches and pastors
T2 (100 minutes). Japanese festivals and ancient culture; navigating communication with family in the United States; conversion in Japan; missionary children and education; change of leadership with LIFE ministries; Douglas Birdsall; working with the Japan Church Growth Institute (JCGI); evangelism and church planting in Japan; English outreach; importance of long-term relationships between Japanese people and churches; accepting the call to career missions; enrolling at Columbia International University; full-time language school; working with Kaminoyama Bible Baptist church; planting fully independent Japanese churches; differences and similarities of Japanese and American churches; secularization; Buddhism; story of Kamiko, a Japanese student; advantages of being American in Japan; working with other missions and denominations in Japan
T3 (50 minutes). Identifying with Japanese culture; cultural differences for their children; raising a family on mission field; Japan Evangelical Missions Association; challenges and goals of church planting; leadership styles and church planting; handling church conflict; emphasis on prayer in the Japanese church; lessons from the Japanese church
Series: Prayer Letters
Arrangement: Chronological
Date Range: 1987-2008
Volume: .5 cubic feet
Boxes: One
Geographic coverage: Japan, United States
Type of documents: Prayer letters
Subjects: Church growth in Japan, Japanese language, Japanese culture, culture shock, missionary children, church planting
Notes: The prayer letters are arranged chronologically. Folder 1-1 consists of photocopies made by the Archives staff as well as a few notes taken on how to write prayer letters. Folder 1-2 contains prayer letters mailed to and then collected by the Archives.
Provenance
The materials in this collection were given to the Archives of the Billy Graham Center by Mr. Davis in 2003.
Accession: 03-72, 03-75, 03-81
June 2010
Noel Collins Pfeifer
LOCATION RECORD
Acc. # 03-72, 03-75
Type of Material: Audio Tapes
The following items are located in the AUDIO TAPE file.
Item# - Reel or cassette, speed, length, number of sides, contents (title of sessions, participants according to the program, date.
| # | R/C | length | sides | contents | dates |
| T1 | C | 98 | 2 | Oral history interview of Gregory Davis by Paul Ericksen | 11/11/2003 |
| T2 | C | 100 | 2 | Oral history interview of Gregory Davis by Paul Ericksen | 11/18/2003 |
| T3 | C | 50 | 2 | Conclusion of oral history interview of Gregory Davis by Paul Ericksen | 11/18/2003 |
LOCATION RECORD
Acc. # 03-81
Type of Material: Prayer letters
| BOX LIST | |||
| Box | Folders | First Folder/Last Folder | Dates |
| 1 | 2 | Prayer Letters; 1987-1997/Prayer Letters; 1998-2008 | 1987-2008 |