Stephen Davey
President / Bible Teacher
Stephen Davey, the son of missionary parents, was raised to love Christ and the gospel. In his last year of high school, Stephen committed his life to serve Christ vocationally wherever God chose to assign him in ministry. His first part-time opportunity was as a college student, serving one summer alongside his father, who had recently planted a church in Virginia Beach. As a part-time youth pastor, Stephen saw the Lord impact the lives of students with His timeless word. CLICK HERE to read how Stephen came to faith in Jesus Christ.
Ministry Preparation and Marriage
When Stephen began his collegiate studies at Liberty University in 1976, he majored in Bible and minored in World History. He finished his studies at Tennessee Temple where he met his future wife, Marsha (Gladney). They married soon after graduating from college together in 1981. God has since blessed them with four children (twin boys and 2 girls) who’ve given them seven perfect grandchildren!
Stephen’s love for history, combined with a desire to teach the scriptures verse by verse, led him to enroll in seminary for further training. Stephen earned his first master’s degree (MDiv) at Detroit Seminary and then his second master’s in theology (STM) from Dallas Seminary.
Church Planting and Pastoring
Following graduation from Dallas in 1986, Stephen and Marsha moved with their infant twin sons to Cary, North Carolina, to plant The Shepherd's Church. From the very beginning, Stephen preached expository sermons, while Marsha created the nursery and children’s programs. In those early days, word of the new church’s commitment to Bible exposition and the doctrines of grace spread rapidly, and the fellowship was soon overflowing with attendees. In September of 2021, Stephen reached 35 years of pastoring this wonderful ministry and church family.
Shepherds Theological Seminary Leadership
Throughout his pastorate, Stephen longed to plant churches and train men and women for ministry roles in the church. That vision became a reality in 2000 with the inauguration of Shepherds Theological Seminary where Stephen serves as president.
Shepherds has earned full membership status with The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and enjoys a growing student body, taught by an outstanding faculty. The seminary currently meets on the campus of The Shepherd's Church, where Stephen enjoys interacting with the students, as well as teaching regularly in the pastoral theology department.
Wisdom International Begins
For several years, two faithful volunteers had been recording and reproducing sermon cassettes as well as typing out sermon transcripts. When Trans World Radio’s president approached Stephen about producing a radio broadcast, he agreed. After adding a program producer and taking a big step of faith, Wisdom was ready for production. In 2001, Wisdom for the Heart went on the air via TWR’s transmitter in Bath, England.
Several years later, the Bible Broadcasting Network began airing Wisdom throughout their North American network. Additionally, they began translating Stephen’s sermons into Spanish and airing the program on their South American network, reaching a vast audience.
Although joined together through Stephen's global vision, Wisdom International is a separate ministry from The Shepherd's Church and Shepherds Seminary. Wisdom has its own budget and Board of Directors and is entirely supported by its listening family and partners all around the country. Faithful supporters are funding this growing media resource ministry.
In January of 2022, Wisdom launched a brand new program called The Wisdom Journey. This 15-minute program is available in audio and video, and it takes our audience through the Bible—all 66 books—in three years. With this additional program, Wisdom for the Heart changed its corporate name to Wisdom International.
Today, by God’s grace, Wisdom International is heard (via Wisdom for the Heart and The Wisdom Journey) around the world in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili, Mandarin and Arabic. Wisdom’s website offers Stephen’s archives of sermon transcripts and audio teaching, free of charge.
Writing Ministry
Stephen has authored more than 40 books, study guides, commentaries, and booklets, published by Ambassador/Emerald House, Kress, Charity House, and LOGOS. Stephen is scheduled soon to release a commentary on James in the New Testament Exposition Commentary series, published by Regular Baptist Press.
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