Pastor Raymond F. Davis III was born and transformed in the church.  Born in Florence, SC to Sister Sallie Davis and the late Brother Raymond F. Davis, Jr. as the eldest of four children.  Throughout his lifetime, and even now, his grandfather the late Bishop Raymond F. Davis Sr., who founded and established the Greater Highway Churches of Christ (GHCOC) Inc., fertilized him with love, the Word of God, wisdom, and integrity.  Additionally, Elder Davis was undeniably influenced by his grandmother, the late Mother Iolar B. Davis.  Over many years of accompanying her to prayer services and observing her strength through prayer and faith, he grew in the wisdom and knowledge of God.

For decades, Elder Davis served the GHCOC and many churches along the East Coast and abroad with his God-given musical gifts and abilities.  For many, this seemed to clearly establish his calling.  However, throughout his ministry experiences, there were irrefutable moments that foreshadowed his vocation to higher heights and deeper depths.  After years of faithfully serving and in submission to God’s will and timing, Elder Davis humbly and officially accepted the call to preaching ministry and was licensed in December of 2009.

Throughout the years, as a Minister, his deep affection towards God and His Word grew exponentially.  In 2017, he was ordained and promoted to the office of Elder in the Lord’s Church and appointed the assisting pastor of GHCOC Rowland.  There was always great expectation within his heart!  He strongly desired that the church would become more effective in its reach for souls and would have a greater community footprint.  The need to “have a good report of them which are without” (Titus 6:7) is essential!

That great expectation turned into a vision during the height of the pandemic, in the year 2020.

While the Lord placed the entire world on pause, Elder Davis started teaching and preaching from his living room via Zoom call.  Eventually, the services branched out to the parking lot of the wedding chapel in Dillon, South Carolina.  By the leading of the Lord and the support of the people, Great Expectations Church of the Lord Jesus Christ was birthed.  The foundational scripture in Philippians 1:20 tells us of how God will transform and equip us to boldly do His will.

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed,
but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death.”

In October 2020, through a series of events that only God could’ve ordained and orchestrated, the former Dillon Church of God building was acquired and is the current location of the church.  Through yielding to God’s will and the selfless service of God’s people, we see Isaiah 60:22 being made a reality.

“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will
hasten it in his time.”

And, to God be the glory, this is just the beginning…