Meet David Docusen

We recently connected with David Docusen and have shared our conversation below.

David, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I discovered my purpose while pastoring a church in Charlotte, North Carolina, that sat quite literally on the dividing line between the rich and the poor. On one side of our street, there were luxury high-rise apartments with rooftop pools and valet parking. On the other side, families were struggling in generational poverty, facing systemic barriers in education, housing, healthcare, and employment.

That tension became personal when I realized how blind I had been to the inequities in my own community. Over time, I began to listen, learn, and walk alongside neighbors whose lives looked very different from mine. Those relationships reshaped my understanding of the Gospel. The call to love God and love our neighbors suddenly felt urgent, practical, and deeply transformative. That season birthed the message of Neighborliness and led me to a lifelong calling—helping others cross dividing lines, confront injustice, and pursue a faith that shows up with compassion and action in the real world.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

For the past several years, I’ve had the joy of serving as the CEO of The Neighborliness Center (www.neighborliness.com). This nonprofit organization helps churches and community partners engage neighborhoods through a holistic framework that addresses housing, education, economic development, and healthcare. Our work has always centered on the belief that loving God and loving our neighbors must lead us to meaningful action, especially in communities facing poverty and injustice.

What’s most exciting right now is how that mission is expanding. I’ve recently stepped into the role of President of the International Ministry Network (IMN), a global network of churches and pastors committed to that same ethos of neighborliness. Through IMN, we are now offering ministerial licensing and ordination to leaders around the world who want to build churches that are vibrant, contextual, and relentlessly committed to loving God and neighbors. It’s a fresh, Spirit-led movement that’s rooted in deep relationships, practical support for leaders, and a shared vision of Gospel-centered transformation. Learn more at www.imnchurches.org.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are humility, curiosity, and consistency. Humility opened the door for me to learn from voices and experiences that were different from my own, especially in communities where I had more to receive than to give. Curiosity kept me asking questions, exploring Scripture in new ways, and seeking wisdom from people across different cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds. And consistency—just showing up, day after day, even when the work felt slow or unseen—built the kind of trust that leads to real transformation. For those just starting out, my advice is this: stay teachable, stay present, and don’t underestimate the power of small, faithful steps. Deep impact is rarely quick, but it always starts with showing up with your heart and hands open.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

One of the most exciting developments in this season is the creation of the Kingdom Innovation Fund—a collaborative initiative through The Neighborliness Center and the International Ministry Network (IMN). This fund is designed to inspire and equip kingdom-minded business leaders, church planters, and pastors to think outside the box and reimagine what ministry can look like in their context.

We’re investing in leaders blending entrepreneurship with mission, launching businesses that provide jobs and serve their communities, and investing in church plants rooted in love for God and neighbor.

We’re building a network of innovators who believe the Gospel should be good news in every area of life—economic, relational, and spiritual. If you’re a leader with a heart for justice, creativity, and community transformation, we’d love to connect with you and welcome you into this growing movement.

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