AFTER YEARS of searching for a community that felt like home, Beth Davenport and her husband, Brad Davenport, found themselves at Canvas Community Church, where their lives transformed in unexpected ways. Their simple quest for a church closer to home where their children could grow and thrive gradually became a deep and abiding devotion to ministry. Little did Beth know that the seeds planted in her heart years ago as a young single mother would become a calling that would redefine her purpose at age 40, welcoming her to embrace her divine assignment as a youth pastor. With her husband by her side, she opened not only the doors of their home but also their hearts. They have created a special place where teenagers discover their voices and realize the endless possibilities that faith and fellowship can inspire.
Beth and Brad celebrated 20 years of marriage this year. This milestone reminds them of the years they’ve shared together as a couple and as ministers. Shortly after their marriage, the couple found themselves searching for a new church home. They felt they needed a deeper, more authentic community. Their search brought them from Murfreesboro to Manchester, where they found Canvas Community Church.
At Canvas, Beth and her husband began their ministry as regular attendees, but they instantly fell in love with their new community and gradually became more involved. They started serving in the kids’ ministry, and as their participation grew deeper, so did their sense of belonging.
“We just got super invested,” Beth recalled.
The couple began teaching a marriage class, and Beth found her calling in outreach and women’s ministries.
In her early years, while juggling the challenges of being a young, single mother, Belt felt a divine nudge — a hint at a future in youth ministry.
“At that time, I had just had a baby, and one night, I felt that the Lord was telling me I would work with youth one day,” she said.
She carried this vision quietly, waiting for the right moment. That moment came when the church offered her the position of middle school youth pastor at Canvas, which she and her husband enthusiastically embraced. There’s something about watching young teens grow and evolve that sets Beth’s heart on fire.
“I love seeing them step out of their comfort zone and into the things that the Lord has for them,” she said. “The transformation that takes place when students fully surrender to Him is really unlike anything else. It never gets old.”
Beth believes that good ministry begins with genuine relationships and a caring presence. She engages with the youth by showing interest in their lives, attending their events, and creating a welcoming environment where they can feel at home.
“A person doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” she said. “Relationships take continuous effort, so truly caring and investing in them is key. We also attend their games and events. If they don’t have great family support at home, sometimes it can mean even more. We have three children of our own. My son is a young adult now, but he’s married. Our two daughters are still teenagers, and I absolutely love getting to know their friends. We’re the ones that students know they can come to — they can play, eat, and hang out. Our door is always open for them.”
Her home has become a safe space for many young teens, where they can find a sense of belonging, connect, and simply be.
Beth acknowledged that ministry work is as physical and emotional as it is spiritual. It requires a constant balance of self-awareness and selflessness, and navigating the spiritual battles that come with the territory.
“The enemy knows this work is important, so that’s why he comes at us so hard,” she explained.
Yet, this challenge drives her devotion to her calling and deepens her reliance on her faith.
Beth gleans inspiration from the youth pastors and leaders who shaped her own life and recognizes the crucial role they played in her development.
“They treated me like a daughter and were there for me through every season of my life,” she said.
Beth’s dreams for the future are rooted in the continued growth and impact of her ministry. She hopes to keep nurturing the faith and development of her students, creating spaces where they can explore their potential and experience the transformative power of faith.
A year and a half ago, Beth’s father faced a life-threatening situation. As he was airlifted to the hospital, Beth pondered what she would say to her father if it were to be their last moments together. Thankfully, he pulled through. Her message to her father, in that moment, and the community is simply, “God loves you, no matter what.”
Beth’s life story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected paths lead us exactly where we are meant to be. We have the ability to touch lives and build communities in ways we could never have imagined. Sometimes, faith and a willingness to serve lead us to our true calling.
“He (the Lord) can empower us to do so many things that we never thought or could even dream up on our own. That’s when you know it’s the Lord — when you are doing things that you would never think of or do in your own strength,” she said. GN
