Volunteer Spotlight: Dr. Barney Davis
Faith in Practice, Compassion in Action
When you meet Dr. Barney Davis, MD, it doesn’t take long to realize he’s someone deeply grounded in faith and wholly committed to healing—not just of the body, but of the soul. As a longtime volunteer Psychiatrist at the Neighborhood Christian Clinic, Dr. Barney brings a rare combination of clinical skill, spiritual wisdom, and heartfelt presence to every patient interaction.
“My Christian community is rooted in my church,” he shares. “It’s where I worship, teach, sing, and pray. But my work—both at the Clinic and internationally—has also become a sacred space for community, prayer, and discipleship.”
Before coming to faith in Christ, Dr. Barney had already built a successful career in psychiatry. But something was missing.
“I practiced psychiatry for years without the benefit of being a Christian—and while patients often improved, there was no heart change. Now that I’m under the direction of the Holy Spirit… I get to see joy. I get to see miracles.”
“More understanding. More acceptance. More peace. Just things I can’t explain with traditional theory.”
These days, every morning begins with prayer. And if he’s volunteering at the Clinic, it doesn’t stop there.
“We start the clinic with prayer as a group. I pray with patients. I pray about patients. We pray after the fact for healing. We ask, ‘Where is God in this moment?’ That’s what we’re really looking for.”
For Dr. Barney, prayer is both compass and lifeline.
“I love prayer—it’s the only way I can get through the day. I need that constant communication with God.”
Even through personal sorrow, prayer has remained his anchor.
“My wife has been with the Lord for seven years. I’m alone—but she’s with the Lord. I have two daughters who love Jesus, and my spiritual focus now is the salvation of my grandchildren and great-grandson.”
What’s the Difference Between Secular and Spirit-Led Psychiatry? Dr. Barney Explains.
Dr. Barney is refreshingly honest about his faith walk.
“I’ve only been saved about a third of my life. So I’ve got two-thirds of memories, impulses, and thought patterns that still intrude in my quiet time or when I’m with patients. I fall back on Romans 7:24: ‘What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?’ And then Romans 7:25: ‘Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!’”
He shares that verse without hesitation—because it’s real. And because at the Clinic, faith isn’t an afterthought. It’s the foundation.
“We don’t just help people feel better. We want their lives to change. That’s what makes the Clinic different. We’re not just treating symptoms—we’re witnessing transformation.”
That transformation happens daily in patient rooms, waiting areas, prayer circles—and in the lives of volunteers like Dr. Barney.
“Whether I’m in my office, the hospital, or here at the Clinic—we’re always praying. And we’re always asking, ‘God, what are You doing here?’ Because if you believe God only gives good gifts to His kids, then you know there’s purpose in every moment.”
We’re deeply grateful for Dr. Barney’s wisdom, warmth, and unwavering faith. He reminds us every day that whole-person care means caring deeply—for body, mind, and soul.
