A Note from Dr. Blanc
“Unity Through Christ”
As we step into June, I find myself grateful for you. Paul’s words in Philippians 1:3–5 come to mind: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you… because of your partnership in the gospel.” That is how I feel about our alumni family. Your faithful prayers and generous support are not abstract – they are part of what God is actively using to shape lives here every day. I was recently reminded of this in a fresh way as I had the opportunity to be with our students on the streets of New York City. I watched them open God’s Word, engage people with compassion, and speak the name of Jesus with courage and clarity. It was deeply encouraging. God is at work – forming in them a deeper love for Him and a boldness to serve and proclaim Christ wherever He leads. Thank you for being part of that work. Please keep praying – God is answering in powerful ways. And if the Lord leads you to give, know that your gift is an investment in students who are being transformed and who are committed to seeing that same life-change in others.
As we celebrate this season of giving, consider how your support for our scholarship fund can extend that same grace to aspiring leaders – students who are called to make Christ known in their worlds. Every gift, no matter the size, helps remove barriers to biblical education and equips the next generation; donations can be made securely online at Davis College.
Dr. Alan Blanc, Ph.D.
President, Davis College
Latest News!
Summer Break
Our students have officially completed their 2025–2026 school year! They have been diligent throughout this year. They are now enjoying summer break, and some are preparing for their next steps after graduation, while others are getting ready to return to New York for their summer ministry.
Get Acquainted with Davis!
Student Feature – Fei Fei Yen
I am thankful that Davis held an admissions information session. The school staff, Rachel and Hailey, provided warm and comprehensive support, including guidance on transfers and consultation services. After the session, I immediately applied for admission. My major is Biblical Counseling and Christian Ministry. We also have a very helpful academic assistant, Naomi, who has provided me with excellent guidance and course planning, allowing me the opportunity to pursue my two main interests.
As I began to study biblical counseling more, I discovered that God has given us a powerful weapon to help people resolve their struggles: the Bible. My studies at school help me understand how to use biblical counseling appropriately to assist those in need in overcoming their difficulties and to have more opportunities to bring Jesus into their lives.
My studies at Davis will help me understand how to get involved and prepare for my future goal of establishing a biblical counseling center in my church, as well as connecting it with the church’s discipleship training system, to fulfill God’s mission for the church to become a lifeboat and a hospital for the soul.
Staff Feature – Naomi Saravanapavan
I serve as the Director of Operations at Davis College, overseeing key administrative functions and supporting both students and staff. I was first introduced to Davis as a student, earned my degree here, and then joined the academic team shortly after graduating. My passion for higher education and ministry, along with the college’s commitment to Christ-centered learning, inspired me to continue serving and growing within the Davis College community.
As it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This verse reflects my favorite part of my role: supporting students throughout their journey and watching them grow both academically and spiritually. I also value collaborating with colleagues who share a commitment to the college’s mission, and I find it especially rewarding to contribute, both directly and behind the scenes, to student success.
I see God working in my life through the daily opportunities to serve others, show compassion, and contribute to a Christ-centered environment. Being part of Davis College allows me to integrate my faith into my professional role, whether it’s through encouraging students, supporting my coworkers, or making decisions that align with biblical values. I strive to serve Him in return by approaching my work with integrity, humility, and a heart for service, trusting that even the small tasks can have a meaningful impact.
Naomi Saravanapavan
Director of Operations & SCO
Registrar
Director of Financial Aid
CCI Spotlight – Avree Toy
Through Davis, I am currently studying TESOL, and I am serving in Atibaia, Brazil. Because this degree focuses on understanding language and how to break down English to meet students where their understanding is, I have been able to help with teaching English lessons to a mixed group of students. I have been learning not only how to create English lessons but also how to make them fun, engaging, and challenging for the group. This has allowed me to think on my feet to help keep my students locked in and ready to progress their skills.
I think it’s just been putting my school assignments into practice. I have already used a lot of the lesson plans that I created for assignments. I have also been able to put my teaching skills into practice.
Please keep the children of Atibaia in your prayers. These kids have been through some intense physical and emotional extremes. Please be praying for the Lord to use Vinde ministry to touch the lives of the kids that we serve and also the parents/guardians of the kids. And I am personally still learning Portuguese, so if you can keep my Portuguese learning abilities in your prayers, I would so appreciate it!
Student Life
Summer break is now upon us! Students have diligently finished their schoolwork, and they have studied hard for all their final exams. They are now joyfully enjoying their time of rest.
A majority of our Pottersville on-campus students will be returning to serve at Word of Life Camps this summer. Many of them serve in leadership roles, actively shepherding college and high school students toward their next steps with Jesus. This is an incredible opportunity to put their classroom learning into practice. We can’t wait to see how God uses each of them!
Thank you for your continued prayer support for our students throughout the year. We look forward to graduation in August! To God be the glory!
Concentration Highlight – Teaching English as a Second Language
The Teaching English as a Second Language Concentration provides specialized training to students desiring to share their faith in closed-door nations or in their homeland with the immigrant community in the context of TESL, and thus to contribute to the building of the Body of Christ.
Student Ministry – Lauren LaRue
My current formal ministry as a Davis student is mainly conducted at the Center for Biblical Counseling on campus as an intern counselor. I meet with students and engage with their problems, helping them to face their problems biblically in their thinking and their actions.
This past year with Davis has helped me grow in learning how to serve my ministry by equipping me with knowledge and experience. My counseling classes with Joe Schenke always contain excellent content, fine-tuned by his years of experience. I have a class called Counseling Practicum 2, where we counsel our fellow students in front of the class and receive feedback, which was particularly nerve-racking and humbling but extremely helpful to my slow growth.
Compared to last year, the largest changes to my ministry have been in the quantity of cases, as I’m simply taking on a little more than I did at this time last year. I am constantly being faced with things that I’ve never faced before and don’t really know what to do with, so I’m always on my toes.
Upcoming Events
We are now rolling into summer camp season, and some of our students are preparing and resting over break for an exciting eight weeks of camp! We are so thankful to have this opportunity for some of our students to continue to serve in this way.
We are also looking forward to graduation for our seniors, which is taking place on August 15 at the Word of Life Bible Institute in New York. More details to come.
Prayer Requests
If you have any prayer requests you would like our student body and staff to pray for, please email us at alumni@davisny.edu. We are always praying for our alumni and current students, and we would love to hear from you.
Support Davis College Students
If you would like to support Davis College students, you can give now. Just click the “Donate Now” button, and it will direct you to our giving site. Every gift helps provide scholarships and support for our students. Thank you for your generosity!
For questions or updates, please contact us at alumni@davisny.edu.
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