Sacred Roots Thriving in Ministry: Moving Forward to Multiply

Speaker Biographies

Rev. Dr. Don Davis Dr. Don Davis, founder and director of The Urban Ministry Institute, has been involved in urban ministry and missions with World Impact since 1975. He has spent his entire ministry career seeking to raise up a new generation of qualified spiritual leaders, pastors, and church planters who can build up Christ’s Church in the most vulnerable and unreached urban communities in America and across the world. He is a graduate of Wheaton College (BA, Biblical Studies) and Wheaton Graduate School (MA, Systematic Theology,) with summa cum laude honors in both degrees. He earned his PhD in Religion (2000, Theology and Ethics) from the University of Iowa School of Religion. A recipient of numerous teaching and academic awards, he has also authored a number of books, curricula, and study materials all to equip, empower, and release biblical leaders to serve the Church of Jesus among the poor and oppressed, and display Kingdom transformation where they live and minister. He married his wife, Beth in February 1975, and together they have three children (one deceased), and four grandchildren. Rev. Bob Engel Rev. Bob Engel joined The Urban Ministry Institute in October 2016, serving as the National Church Planting Director. He serves to assess, resource, and coordinate urban cross-cultural church planters and their efforts on behalf of World Impact’s missionaries, urban church plant teams, and other missional partners who are seeking to plant healthy, reproducing churches and facilitate church plant movements among America’s urban poor. Bob and his wife, Susan, have four children: Rachel, Tristan, Chase, and Mihaly. Rev. Eric Himelick Rev. Eric Himelick and his wife Rachelle are currently serving as the Director of Urban Ministry and Development for Evangelistic Faith Missions. They live with their six children— Kaylynn, Rebecca, Sarah, Samuel, Esther, and Karissa—in Upland, Indiana, at Victory Acres Farm. Eric graduated in 2000 from Union Bible College with a degree in Pastoral Ministry. Rachelle attended UBC for two years. They served as the founding directors of Victory Inner-City Ministries for fifteen years before joining EFM in June 2015.

11