News & Events

Dear VOA Friends and Supporters,

I want to share with you my plans to retire.  I am deeply grateful to you, who have made all the difference in my life.  Please accept my sincere appreciation for your prayers and support over the years.  I am grateful to you.

I have been a part of Volunteers of America (VOA) for over 42 years.  When I first started with VOA in 1975 in New Orleans, my now 45-year-old son was 3 months old.  When I began with VOA in Mobile, my now 40-year-old daughter was 2 months old.  My family has grown up with VOA.

In October 1980, I became the first Advisory Board President of the Mobile VOA branch.  And in April 1981, I became the first Executive Director of the Mobile VOA branch.  Then in 1985, I became the first President and CEO for VOA South Alabama.

I have been blessed to be a part of this great moment.  I do not believe that God could have given me a better platform of ministry than what he has given to me here at VOA. VOA is part of who I am; I am eternally grateful.

My wife, Barbara has been an integral part of all that I have done.  Barbara has been by my side, and I am so much better because of her.

We believe the time has arrived.  And our departure from this role will be June 30, 2021.  This decision has been the most difficult one that I have ever made.  But even Moses changed after 40 years! (He left and died…not my plans!)

Additional Background Information

Imagine back, if you can, to the spring of 1977. A young, 27-year-old man was about to graduate after six years of post-graduate seminary work and would soon be receiving his Doctorate of Psychology and Counseling. At that moment in time, he found himself struggling to find where God wanted him to go.

I had been a pastor since I was nineteen years old and was uncertain about whether to go into the pastorate full time, set up a family counseling practice, or continue to explore possibilities to teach at a local medical school. One day, after defending my dissertation, I was walking and talking with God on the VOA homeless services campus in New Orleans, where I had worked for the previous two years. That beautiful spring day, God spoke and said, “You would enjoy doing the same kind of work as you have been doing in the past with VOA.”  I realized this could be my future, but I didn’t give it much thought at that time!    

At about the same time, I was also feeling God leading me to Mobile, Alabama, and I moved there with no job. Subsequently, a local church in Mobile talked to me about coming as their associate pastor, but I was resistant to the idea. God worked on my heart. One day while driving the streets of the Oakdale Baptist Church community, I stopped and responded to the Lord, “God, if this is what you want me to do, I will serve you here and do my very best.” And it was as if God responded to me and said, “In three years, I will show you the path I have for you.”

Just three years later, I was introduced to Colonel Clint Chevalier, VOA’s Regional Director, who asked me to serve as the first Community Board Advisory President.  I had a wonderful eight-year ministry at Oakdale Baptist Church and, during this time, successfully led several churches to merge and form four strong churches and ministries. God was at work!  And the Oakdale years would later prove to be building blocks of significant relationships that enabled the work of VOA.  I am thankful for more than 40 years of service in this position.

Thank you for your support, your prayers, your encouragement and your financial contributions.  You have been a blessing to me and many others.

Sincerely,

Wallace T. Davis
President and CEO