Bernice was born and raised on a cotton farm in a small town in Georgia. As a child, she used to mimic the country preachers that visited the storefront church in the community yet never imagined that one day she herself would be preaching. She finished high school early and at the age of seventeen, she left home to pursue her college career. She attended Clark College and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and became a dual degree student majoring in Physics and Electrical Engineering. Her heart's desire was public speaking yet she was talked into pursuing the world of engineering because of her aptitude for math and sciences.
Bernice longed to break away from the strictness of her upbringing and was excited to finally experience the freedom to explore life outside of that rural community into which she was birthed. A couple of years into college, she quickly encountered the struggles and hardships of "growing up". She found herself in a failed relationship, kicked out of college, broke, and emotionally bankrupt. Over the years, she had abandoned her religious training and eventually became unsure as to whether God existed and became agnostic and at times atheistic in her beliefs.
At the darkest hour of her life, and with things continuing to deteriorate, she attempted to commit suicide. After a failed effort, she began to search for purpose and meaning in life and begin a journey to discover the true and Living God. She immediately became fascinated with the biblical text and ultimately developed a love for the word of God. She desperately wanted to experience the renewing and transforming power that she was taught it would bring and be in a true relationship with Jesus Christ. She wanted to be FREE. She received her Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering and went on to pursue a Master's Degree in Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta Georgia where she graduated in 1998 top of her class along with receiving the preaching award.
Bishop Odis Sneed Jr. of God's Church International Fellowship in Atlanta, Georgia consecrated her as an elder and minister of the gospel on August 25, 1991. On October 20, 2000, she was ordained by Archbishop Wilbert (Bill) McKinley of the Elim International Fellowship Church in Brooklyn, New York. This places her ordination in the apostolic stream/succession allowing it to be traced through the laying on of hands back to the Apostle Peter, one of the original disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. She served under the tutelage and mentoring of Bishop Sneed for almost 20 years. Her duties under his leadership included being an Instructor in the Christian Education Department where she taught Old Testament, New Testament, Between the Testaments, Church History, Catechism, Biblical Hebrew and Black Presence in the Bible. She also taught leadership training courses, Adult and Youth Sunday school classes. She held such positions as Assistant Pastor, Church Administrator, Christian Education Director, and headed Women, Youth, and Outreach Ministries. She has been working with the prison ministry for over 15 years and is currently a volunteer chaplain.
Bernice has had some incredible mentors over the years but she attributes her shaping and love for the things of God to five in particular. Her first and most precious is her mother who with less than a eighth grade education had understanding and insight into the word of God that still amazes Bernice when she recalls her disciplined prayer and word life. She constantly pulls from the countless lessons that her mom taught her even when she was hostile to the faith. Bishop Odis Sneed Jr, was influential in helping her develop her study life; the late Archbishop Wilbert McKinley introduced her to Reformed theology which dramatically changed her life; the late Dr. Charles B. Copher taught her “that the more you know, the more you know you need to know” and encouraged the discipline of consistent and lifelong study and Bishop Paul S. Morton's love, support and integrity has helped her overcome barriers from her past. While they have all proven to be major in her growth and development, her greatest mentor and teacher is in the person of the “love of her life”, her husband Caple Davis. She thanks God daily that she has been blessed to be his wife.
Her specialty is the field of hermeneutics (the science of interpretation) and she teaches audiences all over methods of studying the bible. She teaches in a scholarly format yet her style of ministry is embraced by audiences' at all educational levels. They are captivated by her systematic approach in explaining the scriptures with such passion and anointing.
Although her ministry appeals to pastors, leaders and laypeople; youth are also attracted to her style of teaching. Kids have been drawn by her genuineness, boldness, and transparency and constantly make appeals to her for mentorship.
She is the founder of Bernice Davis Ministries. It is a non-profit organization whose goal is to make disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping them with a sound knowledge of the Word and exegetical resources. Her goals are to make sure that believers are able to clearly articulate the Christian faith in order to win the lost, live abundant lives and to be FREE. Bernice travels both nationally and internationally with the ministry and when she is at home, she attends Changing a Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church where Bishop Paul S. Morton is the Senior Pastor.
She has been married almost 20 years to Caple Davis and along with her husband they are the owners of two businesses, a computer company (CBITS) and a day spa (Celestial Spa). She loves the WORD OF GOD and has an incredible zeal in helping others develop a passion to not only knowing it but LIVING IT. She always ends her writings with “Stay encouraged everyone and don't forget to pray and read God's word daily.” All is Well, Everything is Safe and Everything is Just as It Should be for GOD is Sovereign.
