What is
this journey?
This path is for all of us, finding ourselves along The Way.


Our Mission
JourneyWise aims to equip people on the journey of life to love Jesus and to love like Jesus along the Way.
A Friend for the Journey
Our faith-based content network has enabled us to use the gifts God has given us to help people from all walks of life sit at the feet of Jesus and receive life from his Word. Further, it has transformed a friendship into a force for Christ and His kingdom.
Moore-West Center of Applied Theology
The JourneyWise Team
The JW Team

Dr. Shane Stanford

Dr. Ronnie Kent
Executive Vice President of Faith and Wellness & Special Projects

Dr. Pokey Stanford

Nicolet Bell

Dr. Cynthia Davis

Dr. Chip MacGregor

Anthony Thaxton

Sarai Grace Smith

Dr. James Kent

Ann Lowery

Steve Casteel

Bryant Thaxton

Dr. Ray Cummings

Michelle Hopson
Servant School Scholars

Dr. Bryan Collier

Dr. Ronnie Kent

Dr. Kim Reisman

Dr. Phil Tallon

Dr. David Watson

Dr. Pokey Stanford

Dr. Sonny Davis
Applied Theology

Dr. Kevin M. Watson
Board of Directors

Jack Moore

Betty Moore

Dr. Bill West

Carole West

Dr. Maxie Dunnam
Our Partners





Dr. Shane Stanford
A familiar face to many, Shane served as host of ‘The United Methodist Hour’, a television and radio ministry airing in more than 30,000,000 homes nationwide. As co-host of We Believe in Memphis’ with Maxie Dunnam, Shane brought local and national issues to light through the popular interview-based television program broadcast in the Memphis metro area.
Shane was awarded a doctorate from Asbury Seminary in 2014. He also holds graduate degrees in theology and ethics from Duke Divinity School, where he was awarded the prestigious Jameson Jones Award in homiletics. He is a graduate (cum laude) of the Honors College of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he holds a degree in political science with a minor in history and also has advanced training in marriage and family studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Shane has traveled extensively sharing his personal testimony as an HIV- and hepatitis C-positive hemophiliac. He has spoken across the nation, including at the 2006 Saddleback Global AIDS Summit in California and at the Global Gathering for AIDS Awareness in Texas. He has appeared on several media outlets, including Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, Canada’s Harvest TV and CNN.
Shane is married to his high school sweetheart, Dr. Pokey Stanford, and they have three daughters and two son-in-laws—Sarai Grace Smith (Wesley), Juli Anna Gibson (Jonathan) and Emma Leigh.
As an accomplished author, Shane has written numerous books, including When God Disappears, Making Life Matter, Five Stones, Mosaic: When God Uses All the Pieces, and What the Prayers of Jesus Tell Us About the Heart of God. “I have spent my years as a pastor, teacher and author sharing what it means to “be salt and light’ from the pulpit. Now I’m eager to share the importance of how being in relationship with Jesus along my journey has blessed my life and what it can mean to others along the way.”
Be salt and light. You Matter, Shane

Dr. Kevin M. Watson
Dr. Watson’s calling is to raise up the next generation of leaders for the church. He is passionate about discipling students and loves praying with them. He enjoys preaching and teaching at conferences, denominational gatherings, and within the local church. Watson’s primary area of expertise is the history and theology of the Wesleyan tradition. He has published several books in this area including Old or New School Methodism? (Oxford University Press), Perfect Love (Seedbed), and The Class Meeting (Seedbed).
Kevin also serves as Scholar in Residence at Asbury Church in Tulsa, OK. He is married to Melissa and they have three children.

Michelle Hopson

Dr. Cynthia Davis
After hearing the call of God to serve in a different capacity, she pastored Friendship United Methodist Church. Was asked by Bishop Wills to serve on the Memphis Cabinet as the McKendree District Superintendent. After five years of faithful service she then became the Senior Associate Pastor and Executive Director of Congregational Care at Christ United Methodist Church. Bishop McAlilly then called Cynthia to come back on the Cabinet to serve as the Mississippi River District Superintendent.
Cynthia received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi (Jackson, MS), her Master of Science in Counseling from the University of Memphis (Memphis, TN), and her Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary (Dayton, OH).
Cynthia and her husband, Dr. Elvernice “Sonny” Davis have four children and two grandsons, Jalen and Blake.

Dr. Sonny Davis
Sonny received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from Rust College, a Master of Divinity Degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center, and a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Long Island University. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in 2005, with a special focus on the Black Church and Public Health.
Sonny has conducted numerous small group workshops on understanding racism and faith in the workplace. He believes his academic, pastoral, and military experiences have afforded him unique insights into resolutions for contemporary social issues.
He is the author of the book “Reflections of an Army Chaplain.”
Sonny and his wife Cynthia are proud parents of four adult children and two grandsons, Jalen and Christian Blake. Sonny loves pastoral ministry, gardening, traveling, and golf. He is a retired member of the Mississippi Annual Conference.

Dr. Ronnie Kent

Dr. Kim Reisman

Dr. Bryan Collier
Bryan is a sports enthusiast, a voracious reader and enjoys baseball and the outdoors. He has been married to Wendy for 31 years and they have two grown children–a daughter Olivia and a son, Houston.

Dr. David Watson
David, his wife, Harriet, and their children attend Stillwater Church in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Phil Tallon
Dr. Tallon is the author of The Poetics of Evil (Oxford, 2012), The Absolute Basics of the Christian Faith (Seedbed, 2016), and the co-author of The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way (Seedbed, 2021). He is the co-editor of The Philosophy of Sherlock Holmes(University Press of Kentucky, 2011). His next two projects are a book on horror movies and a book on visual art and Christian doctrine.
Dr. Tallon lives in Houston, Texas with his wife, three younger children, and husky dog. His oldest daughter is away at college. He‘s on Twitter: @oldhundreth.

Dr. Ray Cummings

Dr. Chip MacGregor

Ann Lowery

Nicolet Bell

Steve Casteel

Bryant Thaxton

Anthony Thaxton

Sarai Grace Smith

Dr. James Kent
Prior to joining our team James worked in healthcare as a psychotherapist and with patients to treat a variety of mental illnesses. He has experience treating individuals, couples, and families, as well as experience as a consultant. He has a special interest in working with faith-based organizations and communities to further equip the Church to help individuals and families with mental health challenges and well-being.
James and his lovely wife, Jessica, have four children: Covington, Wylder, Roman, and Ellie. They live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and are active in Temple Baptist Church. James enjoys spending time with his wife and kids doing outdoor activities. Something you may not know about James is that he and his family live in the country on a tree farm.

Dr. Pokey Stanford
Pokey grew up in the United Methodist church and was active in leadership and discipleship development throughout her life. She and Shane married at 19 and have lived in the abundance of God’s blessings for over 32 years. They have three daughters: Sarai Grace Smith who is married to Wesley and lives in Orlando, FL; Juli Anna Stanford Gibson who is married to Jonathan and lives in Knoxville, TN; and Emma Leigh Stanford who is in college in SanDiego, CA.
Pokey is very excited to lead Servant School for Moore-West Center. She is passionate about teaching and learning for children, youth, young adults, and adults of all ages.