Our Mission:

Living in Gospel-Centered Community.

The mission of the GR Davis Memorial COGIC is to glorify God by making disciples through the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s mission and the mission of His Church are inseparably linked. If God’s mission is to be glorified through the redemption and reconciliation of a people, the Church’s mission must orient around the glory of God and seek to glorify Him through redemption and reconciliation.


The mission of the Church is highlighted in 2 Corinthians 5. As those who have been reconciled to God through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are now ambassadors of reconciliation to a lost and broken world. We plead, urge, implore, reason, pray, serve, preach, teach and gather to see God glorified through reconciliation.


At GR Davis, this mission is best displayed in our communities, where we daily have the chance of living out the Gospel to those around us.



Pastor Sheldon Thomas

Pastor Sheldon Thomas is an anointed, progressive, visionary, who loves and has the heart for God’s people. Most importantly, he’s saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. Answering the call to proclaim the gospel 15 years ago, he is motivated by his desire to serve the people of God at a greater level. Following his enrollment in the ordination academy, he graduated and was ordained as an Elder in August of 2011. Pastor Thomas was installed as Pastor of Davis Memorial COGIC on

February 2, 2020.


A native of Erie, PA, Pastor Thomas graduated from Cathedral Preparatory High School. He received a full athletic scholarship for football to Michigan State University where he studied Business Management. He currently serves as a board member of the Michigan State University Football Players Association (MSUFPA). Pastor Thomas’ secular work experience includes over 15 years of management in manufacturing.


With a servant’s heart, he has served at the Lansing Church of God In Christ under the leadership of Bishop Samuel Duncan Jr. While there, Pastor Thomas served in various capacities including; Director of the Iron Men’s Ministry, led the multi-million dollar capital campaign, and served as a trustee, Sunday School teacher, Men’s Choir member, Security Team member, and an adjutant. Pastor Thomas also oversaw several ministries: Singles, Marriage, Children’s Church, Open/Close, Culinary, Altar, and the Youth Department. Pastor Thomas is a faithful member of

The Black Clergy Coalition (BCC).


Pastor Thomas is the husband to First Lady Shayla Thomas. They have been married for over 16 years and together they have two sons, Sheldon II and Shaden. Pastor Thomas also has an older daughter, Taylor.

 

He plans to leave a legacy of meeting the spiritual and natural needs of every man, woman, boy, and girl in the community. Pastor Thomas’ desire is to be a “community church” and not a church in the community, and is passionate about soul winning. He desires to propagate the gospel and introduce Jesus Christ to everyone who doesn’t know him as Lord and Savior of their lives. Pastor Thomas is not bound to the four walls, but understands that true ministry is in the highways and the hedges.


Lady Shayla Thomas

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:21-24


A native of Lansing, MI, the Lord has prepared and equipped First Lady Shayla Thomas for such a time as this.  Through obedience, fasting, prayer, and preparation, she clearly understands that without faith, it’s impossible to please God, but with Faith all things are possible to them that believe.  It is Lady Shayla’s desire to be used by God for His glory and to be in His presence where there is power and fullness of joy.


First Lady of Davis Memorial Church of God in Christ, Grand Rapids, MI, Lady Shayla serves in ministry under the leadership of Pastor Sheldon Thomas.  Currently she serves as a Sunday School teacher and Administrator of the Women’s Department.  Over the years, she has served in many capacities of ministry such as Sunday School teacher, choir member, praise team member, Women’s Department Administrator, Missionary, inside and outside of the four walls of the Davis Memorial Church of God in Christ.   


Lady Shayla received a BA Degree from Western Michigan University in Applied Liberal Studies with a concentration in Human Relations, Environmental Studies, and Community Concerns.  In her professional career, she is a subject matter expert in Human Resources.


Lady Shayla has been married to Pastor Sheldon Thomas for 16 years. They are the proud parents of two sons, Sheldon II and Shaden. 


What keeps her passionate about the call upon her life, is the simple thought of someone being healed, set-free, loosed, delivered, or saved by simply being obedient to God.  This is enough to remind us to continue to lay before the Lord and seek His face, teach the Word of God, fast and pray, exercise our spiritual authority, and take our rightful places in the Kingdom of God. We are Kingdom citizens!