Dr. Richard Bray Named Director of Ministry Center at Shorter College

Dr. Richard E. Bray has been named director of the Hugh F. Davis Center for Ministry Education and an assistant professor of Christian ministry at Shorter College.

In this role, he will build relationships with area churches, be responsible for ministerial training events and develop nontraditional educational programs for ministers. He will also have teaching responsibilities in the area of practical ministry within Shorter’s department of religion and philosophy.

Dr. Bray previously served for five years as pastor at First Baptist Church in Woodbury, Tenn. He has also served as pastor at Halls Westside Baptist Church in Halls, Tenn.; Friendship Baptist Church in Kennett, Mo.; Highland Baptist Church in Bogalusa, La.; Stewart Street Baptist Church in Carmi, Ill.; and North Shore Baptist Church in Slidell, La.

Dr. Bray served as a missionary to Chile through the International Mission Board from April 1989 to January 1997. He also served as the director of church-minister relations for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 1986 to 1987.

He was licensed to ministry by Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss., in 1981 and ordained by First Baptist Church in Southaven, Miss., in 1982.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi, and a Master of Divinity in Biblical studies and a doctoral degree in missions from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Bray has a wife, Lesa, and two grown daughters, Eryn and Lauren.

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