Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Meet Ryan Davenport

Hometown 
Kingsport, TN

Age 
24

Home Church & Denomination
Mafair United Methodist Church in Kingsport, TN

Degrees 
B. A. in History/Education, Minor in Theology, Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia

Garrett-Evangelical Degree Program/Year 
M.Div., 2011

Career Plans 
After I graduate from Garrett-Evangelical, I plan to work for about a year to pay off the debt I have accumulated in financing my undergraduate and graduate studies. At the same time, I plan to enter the candidacy process for elders orders in The United Methodist Church with the goal of serving as a full-time missionary with the Holston Annual Conference. Eventually, down the road, I would like to do Ph.D. work in early Christian theology and philosophy. The focus of my studies would be the first 600 years of the Church, specifically how the patristic fathers interpreted scripture, developed Christian doctrine, and viewed the Godhead in light of Greco-Roman philosophy.

Personal Information 
My parents, Mitch and Jill Davenport, live in Kingsport. My sister has a 2-year-old son, Andy, and I serve as his proud uncle. I love to run, read, preach, work out, golf, sleep, eat healthy home-cooked meals, hunt, fish, hike through mountains, do carpentry, debate theology and philosophy, and involve myself in church. I am a huge fan of the Indianapolis Colts, the Atlanta Braves, and the University of Tennessee Volunteers. Go Big Orange!

Attraction to Garrett-Evangelical 
The two things that attracted me to Garrett-Evangelical were pretty basic: good financial aid and a beautiful campus. The seminary community was very welcoming. Coming from a small town and college, I wanted to experience big city life. Knowing that Garrett-Evangelical was a United Methodist seminary in the heart of Chicagoland made it the obvious choice.

Calling 
I received my call to ministry at an early age, 13. I came to know the Lord as my savior when I was 12 years old and in the 6^th grade.  At that age, I was baptized and confirmed into the Church. When I turned 13, my youth group attended a teen convention in Gatlinburg, TN, where 10,000 United Methodist youth got together each year. That weekend I received my call to the ministry. Since then I have desired nothing more than to serve the Lord with all my heart.