Without question, the best and most cherished asset of The Urban Ministry Institute is its staff. Since its founding, the Institute has only employed full time urban missionaries on its staff. All of the various roles and tasks of its workers--from administration and informational technologies, to desktopping and wordprocessing--are staffed by full time missionaries with World Impact, all of whom have spent significant time in ministry in urban communities. God truly has blessed TUMI National with a remarkable group of dedicated and gifted Christian workers, whose sacrifice and service make our wide array of goods and services possible.

Director, Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

Dr. Don Davis, an ordained minister and native of Wichita, Kansas, is the Founder and Director of World Impact’s Urban Ministry Institute. He attended Wheaton College and Wheaton Graduate School, and graduated summa cum laude in both his B.A. (1988) and M.A. (1989) degrees, in Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology respectively. He earned his Ph.D. in Religion from the University of Iowa School of Religion (2000). Don and his wife Beth joined staff in the fall of 1975, having served as community minister, as Director of World Impact Wichita, and as Vice President of Education.  He has also served in pastoral ministries, as church planter, associate and lead pastor.

In addition to his current duties as the Institute’s Director and as professor in its Hope School of Ministry, Dr. Davis also serves as World Impact’s national Vice President of Leadership Development, and oversees the training of urban missionaries, church planters, and city pastors, and facilitates training opportunities for urban Christian workers in evangelism, church growth, and pioneer missions. He also leads the Institute’s extensive distance learning programs (as of October 2012 we have 130 Institute satellites in 12 countries), and facilitates leadership development efforts for organizations and denominations like Prison Fellowship, the Evangelical Free Church of America, and the Church of God in Christ.

A recipient of numerous teaching and academic awards, Don has served as professor and faculty at a number of fine academic institutions, having lectured and taught courses in religion, theology, philosophy, and biblical studies at schools such as Wheaton College, St. Ambrose University, the Houston Graduate School of Theology, the University of Iowa School of Religion, the and Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies.  He has authored a number of texts, curricula, and study materials to equip urban leaders, including the Capstone Curriculum, TUMI's premiere 16 module distance education seminary instruction.  One of his latest books, Sacred Roots: A Primer On Retrieving the Great Tradition, focuses on how urban churches can be renewed through a rediscovery of the historic orthodox faith.  Dr. Davis has participated in academic lectureships such as the Staley Lecture series, renewal conferences like the Promise Keepers rallies, and theological consortiums like the University of Virginia Lived Theology Project Series. He is also a member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature.  Don received the Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award from the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2009.  He is also a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, and the American Academy of Religion.

Don has been married to Elizabeth (Beth) since February 1975. Their oldest son, Matthew David, was 26 years old when he went home to be with the Lord in August of 2003. They have two other grown children, Joanna Davis-McEligatt, an assistant professor of ethnic studies at the University of Louisiana (Lafayette), and Daniel, who lives in Wichita, Kansas, serves with the Urban Ministry Institute, and is completing a Masters in English at the University of Iowa.

Satellite Director, Rev. Don Allsman

Don Allsman is Vice President of World Impact and the Satellite Director of The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI), World Impact’s urban leadership development center, supporting the work of dozens of TUMI sites worldwide. He is also the co-dean of the School for Urban Cross-Cultural Church Planting, serving with Dr. Don Davis.  Don serves the World Impact San Diego ministry as Regional Vice President.

Don grew up in Bakersfield, California where he received the Lord in sixth grade.  In high school and college, he was Student Body President, President of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and an Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship small group leader.  Don was captain of the Bakersfield College track and field team and was later inducted into its Hall of Fame.   He went on to be part of the conference champion Fresno State track team in 1983-84.

Don earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering at California State University, Fresno (1984) and a Master of Business Administration from Wichita State University (1986) before working in construction management (Granite Construction), aerospace (Boeing and Northrop), and management consulting (Wygle and Company).

Since 1991, Don and his wife, Cathy, have been missionaries with World Impact as Vice President of Administration and later as Vice President of Strategic Planning.  They have two sons, Ryan and Mark.

Administrator/Project Manager, Lorna Rasmussen

Lorna joined World Impact staff in 1991. She began her missionary service in Chester, PA (southern Philadelphia) as a community minister involved in children and youth Bible clubs, teen discipling, and cross-cultural church planting.

In 1997, Lorna joined The Urban Ministry Institute as administrative support staff, and then as Administrator supervising TUMI's administrative systems, schedule, and resources. Lorna also serves as TUMI's Project Manager, which involves giving oversight and coordination to TUMI's numerous and diverse academic, urban ministry, leadership consultation, and training projects.

Administrative Assistant, Beth (Elizabeth) Davis

With the exception of their years in graduate school, Beth and Don have served together on World Impact staff as missionaries since 1976. A graduate of Wichita State University (B.A., Social Work, 1973), Beth has served as a community minister and church plant team member while supporting Don and raising their children (all adult today). Currently Beth serves as an Administrative Assistant at TUMI, serving in various capacities, including finance, inventory and shipping.

Don and Beth have been married since February 1975. Their oldest son, Matthew David, was 26 years old when he went home to be with the Lord in August of 2003. They have two other children, Joanna (born in 1980) is an associate professor in English at the University of Louisiana (Lafayette), and Daniel (born in 1984) is an IT and Media Specialist serving at the Institute.  Both children were doctoral fellows at the University of Iowa in the English department.

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Administrative Assistant to the TUMI Satellite Director, Karla Vasquez

Karla grew up in Los Angeles, CA but was born in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Karla joins TUMI/World Impact shortly after finishing a year with the Sojourners community in our nation’s capital; Washington, D.C.

Karla earned a B.A. in Journalism including two minors in Biblical Studies and Intercultural Studies from Biola University in La Mirada, CA. Karla cares deeply about justice issues and is an advocate for urban gardening.

Karla feels blessed to join the TUMI team.

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Communications Specialist, Adria Medlen

Adria Medlen attended college at California State University Channel Islands, graduating with a B.A. in English. It was during college that she began to develop a heart for inner-city issues, and in 2006 she moved to St. Louis to serve with World Impact. For over six years she mentored teen girls, ran children’s programs and filled various administrative and communications roles. After faithful service in the city of St. Louis, the Lord led Adria and her husband Andrew to TUMI.  Adria serves as TUMI's Communications Specialist, assisting in all forms of TUMI's communications, including multiple newsletters and publications, PR writings on the web and social media, and providing assitance with our project management.

Adria was married to Andrew Medlen in 2008 and served with him in St. Louis for over four years. They were blessed to finalize the adoption of their son, Judah, in 2012. In August of 2012 they moved to Wichita, Kansas, to serve with The Urban Ministry Institute.

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Technology Director, Dan Hennings

Dan grew up in Minnesota and graduated with an Associates Degree from Northwestern College in St. Paul. In January of 1993 he became a missionary with World Impact in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he was involved in community ministry, youth and teen clubs, discipleship, and church planting. On December 28, 1996 he married Carolyn Yoder. In June of 1998 Dan and Carolyn moved to Wichita, Kansas and joined the team at The Urban Ministry Institute.

Dan's role as Technology Manager includes web and graphic design, audio and video production, and technical troubleshooting.

Illustrator and Graphic Designer, Tim Ladwig

Tim is a brilliant painter and accomplished illustrator. For seventeen years he served as a community ministry with World Impact, ministering in Wichita, Los Angeles, and a short time in Newark. Tim created the picture book Psalm Twenty-Three. More than fifteen books followed as well as a host of editorial, cover, advertising, and narrative illustrations.

Tim earned a degree in graphic design from Wichita State University and also studied painting and drawing for a semester in Rome, Italy. After school, he worked as an associate art director for an advertising design studio, then as art director/illustrator for a New York publshing company, followed by eight years of freelance illustrating.

Tim has been a member of the staff of The Urban Ministry Institute for the past five years, serving as its illustrator and graphic designer.

Tim is married to Leah and has three children, Briana, Makayla and David.

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Librarian, Julie Cornett (volunteer)

Julie and her husband Terry served for 23 years as World Impact missionaries before retiring in 2005.  (Terry served as TUMI's Academic Dean, and now serves as its Dean Emeritus).  During their tenure, Julie established TUMI’s Shalom Library and served as its first librarian. The library where she serves was recently renamed the Cornett Library, in honor of the many years of faithful, excellent service Terry and Julie provided at the Institute.  Julie holds a B.G.S. degree from Wichita State University and has taken continuing education courses in Library and Information Science from the University of Utah and Emporia State University.

Julie has two grown children (Jenny and Wes). She and her husband are members of Church of the Resurrection Charismatic Episcopal Church in Wichita, Kansas.