A Vicksburg pastor has been promoted to a regional leadership position.

Dr. Oscar L. Davis, 47, who lives in Natchez but is pastor of The Word Church of Vicksburg, has been named regional bishop by the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and the International Fellowship of Independent Christian Churches and Ministries, both based in Alabama.

Davis will help lead about 4,000 churches in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana and will help advise their pastors.

“He’s a hard-working man who strives to do the work,” said the most Rev. Dr. Henry Roberts II, archbishop of the IFICCM and pastor of The Word of Life Church in Whistler, Ala.

Davis founded The Word, an interdenominational church, a year ago. It began as a Bible class in a small conference room at the Vicksburg Convention Center with about six participants, but has grown to a congregation of about 205 members who meet at the church on Grove Street.

“I built that church from the ground up,” said Davis, also founder of Greater Faith Tabernacle in Natchez.

Davis said he has been a preacher for nearly 25 years. His late father, Bennie Davis, was also a preacher.

Davis received in 2001 an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Grace International Seminary in Dallas.

He operates First Class Limo Service in Natchez.

The Word Church will mark its one-year anniversary with events on Nov. 14.