Ann Davis, Director of Children's Ministries and Discipleship
The Children’s Initiative engages the local church in outreach ministries with children and the poor. We provide resources in education and advocacy, coordinate a grants program to help seed new ministries at the local church, and coordinate the All God’s Children Camp for children of incarcerated mothers. This office also works with the Board of Discipleship and its divisions of Education, Spiritual Formation and Worship. We provide resources and training for the local church in these vital areas of ministry. I have been professionally certified in Christian Education through the United Methodist Church and am presently pursuing additional certification in Spiritual Formation at Wesley Seminary. I have a bachelor’s degree in speech/drama from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, and a master’s degree in theatre directing from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Before coming to work in this office in July 2004, I worked for many years in Christian Education, Children and Youth Ministries at several United Methodist Churches: Welborne UMC in Richmond for five years and Aldersgate UMC in Alexandria for nine years. I have been involved in both district and conference work. District positions included age level coordinator for the Richmond District and children's coordinator for the Alexandria District, as well as serving as a district delegate to annual conference for many years. Conference positions included co-chairing the Children's Initiative Committee, serving on the Media Center Board and the FaithSteps Design Team, and directing the All God's Children Camp for children of incarcerated mothers. I am married to Rik Davis, pastor at Forest Grove United Methodist Church on the Ashland District. We live in Glen Allen with our three children -- Graham, age 13 (who at age 6 drew the picture of the children in a wagon that became the logo for the Children's Initiative); Conna, age 11; and Amelia, age 9 -– and three cats and a hamster. |
Welcome to the Virginia Conference Office of Children’s Ministries and Discipleship! This office resources the local church in all areas of ministry to children, including Christian Education (such as Sunday School and Children’s Worship), programs that help nurture children’s faith development, and child protection. We publish FaithSteps, a quarterly newsletter for those who work with children, and will soon be coordinating a Children’s E-News Update.