PASTOR ELIJAH RAY

Rev. Elijah Ray is a native of Woodruff, South Carolina, born the second of six children to the late Toby Ray, Jr. and The late Mrs. Bertha Thompson Ray. He was educated in the public schools of Spartanburg County, being a 1978 graduate of Woodruff High School. While at Woodruff High he played an active role in the football and basketball programs. He was later inducted into the Woodruff High School Football Hall of Fame. His athletic and music talents earned him scholarships to Lees McCrae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina and later to Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He completed requirements for a Master of Divinity Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in December of 2015.

He is Chief Customer Officer for a logistics company and has served the Logistics profession for over 30 years. He has been involved in numerous leadership development programs during his career and is a frequent speaker at logistics conferences. He has a passion for developing people and relationship management. In 2016 he was named by a Logistics Industry Trade Journal as a "Thought Leader" for Relationship Management. He has served as the second African American president of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, the largest logistics association in the world. He is also a member of the Warehousing Education Council and the American Society for Quality. He serves on The SC Council on Competitiveness' Logistics board.

He has sung with the group The Gospel Prophets for over 40 years. He was honored twice as an Upstate SC Black History Maker in 2008 by 107.3 JAMZ and again in 2016 for his work with scholarships through the event Spirit Fest which is in its 28th year. He was honored by The Senate of the State of SC for serving the community for 25 years of promoting gospel music and providing scholarships.

Upon graduating from Erskine Theological Seminary, he was awarded the Bruce G. Pierce Award for Christian Leadership. This is an award given to a graduating master's student each year at Erskine who most completely integrates a spirit of Christian servant-hood with principles of Christian Leadership.

He received a Doctor of Ministry in May 2022 from Erskine Theological Seminary.

He is a product of the Beaverdam Baptist Church in Enoree, S.C. He has served as pastor of Wyatt's Chapel Baptist Church in Buffalo, SC since 2009.

He is married to Vanessa Watson Ray and the father of Savannah Jeanette Ray.