Tye Davis

Living Proof

Wired for Mission Adventures

What do you do with a five-year-old who blows his nose on a gentleman’s silk handkerchief and steals food off people’s plates at church potlucks? Tye’s parents found few disciplinary methods to change his impish ways, but they finally found a solution -- money. Tye loved to earn money and hated to have it taken away. A few years later, Tye’s grandma used money to encourage Tye to read portions of the Bible and the Story of Redemption.

Being a mischievous child wasn’t all negative. Tye wanted to join Pathfinders when he was 10 and he studied the Bible to be baptized a year later. Being an upfront kid who talked a lot, Tye was asked to speak for a Pathfinder Jamboree at Wallowa Lake when he was 15. He loved it!

At age 18 Tye was asked to preach in the Dominican Republic by Richard Parker the youth director for the Adventist Church. This was a real eye opener. Tye says, “In the Dominican Republic, I saw the great controversy in action. I have never seen such a fight between good and evil.” That’s another story in itself.

Following the mission trip, Tye worked at Camp MiVoden, a summer camp for youth and is currently working for his second year in the Youth Department for the Adventist church. Tye is planning a mission trip to Guatemala, asking other young people to preach!

Tye has come full circle. He says, “I joined a Pathfinder club that nurtured change; I was changed and now I have a chance to help others change.” Letting his serious side come through, Tye says, “I think of an individual who came to camp who was annoying like I was, but I look at him and I think, Tye Junior! And I see him being a huge asset to some ministry someday.” He continues, “I pray he will be there some day. If I told him ‘you’re annoying, go away,’ what if I jeopardized his salvation because I was rude to him? I want to nurture his growth so someday he’ll have the chance to nurture other people.”

Tye’s grandma always believed that he would one day be a preacher. Tye had said he’d rather do anything than that! … But now, the answer is different.