As a freshman in high school, he was told he would not live to be 18 years old.

“I grew up in Burton Heights with a single mom and five older sisters,” said Tyrone Davis, now 28 years old who attend Cornerstone’s Professional and Graduate Program. “All my friends either went to jail or were killed on the streets here.”

He credits his survival to Sabaoth Ministries and Kelly Ellis, a Cornerstone alumnae - or Ms. Ellis as he refers to her.

“One day I got a flier that the ministry was starting and I showed up to the youth center to get help with my homework,” he said. “I knew I needed it. I was struggling in school.”

Not only did Davis receive help with his education but received spiritual guidance as well.

At the center, on South Division Street in the Burton Heights neighborhood, he asked Jesus to come into his life.

“It’s still really vivid to me,” he said. “That day after school I asked Ms. Ellis what it meant to be a Christian, and she explained it to me. She made it fun to learn about Jesus and she still does.

As a result, Davis became a junior volunteer at Sabaoth ministries tutoring inner city kids and loving them.

In 1998, Davis attended Central Michigan University on a scholarship but came home his freshman year after his mother died.

“Sabaoth was my refuge,” said Davis who adopted Ellis as his mother. “I told Ms. Ellis she is my spiritual mother and I refer to her as my mother.”

In 2005, when Davis married his wife, Juanita, who holds a master’s degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Ellis was asked to stand in place of his natural mother in the wedding.

Now, Davis, who attends Cornerstone’s Professional & Graduate Studies program is pursuing a degree in sociology with hopes to open his own youth center someday.

“If it weren’t for this place I probably wouldn’t be here talking to you,” said Davis, who works two jobs and attends classes Tuesday nights on campus. “I want to give back to the community and be a male presence in the lives of these kids who don’t have any. I’ve been there. I know what it takes. I love kids. This place (Sabaoth Ministry) is my foundation. It will always be apart of my life.”

For more information about visit: www.SabaothMinistries.org or call 616.855.6311.