Rev. Dr. Leonard F. Gray
Dr. Leonard F. Gray was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. He comes as one who is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He preached his first sermon at the age of twelve. He has been married to Sister Betty Gray for 45-years. They are blessed to be parents of three wonderful adult children. Gia, Jon B. and Garel Lamont; and six grandchildren. Dr. Gray likes reading, fishing, hunting, and boating.
Dr. Gray is a Visionary: Pastor Gray began his ministry as Choir and Junior Laymen Director; he was ordained as Deacon and Minister in the SouthWest District and; served as Church School Teacher instructor. He has also served as Assistant Dean of Christian Education, in the SouthWest District. He is the past Chaplain of Sterling College, in Sterling, KS; the past Pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Churches, of Dodge City and Newton, KS. A past member of Hutchinson Fair Housing; Human Relations Commission of Newton Ks; a past instructor at the Western Bible College Hutchinson Extension; Instructor for Smoky Hill District Association and past 4th and 1st Vice President for the Kansas State Congress of Christian Education. He is the the past president of Congress of Christian Education in the Smoky Hill District Association. He has also served as Moderator of SouthWest District and held other offices. he has taught various classes on Marriage and Family at the Congress of Christian Education and to several Districts within the State of Kansas. Currently he serves as the 4th Vice President and Prison Ministry Commissioner of the Missionary Baptist State Convention Kansas, 2nd Vice President of the Smoky Hill District Association, and Dean of the Western Baptist Bible College, the Junction City Extension.
His Call to SMBC: Since Dr. Gray's call in October 2003 to Pastor Second Missionary Baptist Church of Junction City, he has become one of the city's leading pastors through his persistent work in the ministry within and outside of the church. He has served on the board of Directors of the Open Door House, member of the Junction City NAACP, a member of the Ministerial Alliance; began a Leadership program for the New Directions Boys Home, a member of the ABC Cluster, he does Prison Ministry, and a member of the Noon Kiwanis. Pastor Gray initiated the 5th Sunday Musicals held at different churches within the community. He led the church in donating more then $1200 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and sponsored seven families impacted by the strom; donated more than $1500 to the Haiti Victims Relief and was instrumental in SMBC sponsoring an Annual Clothing Give-Away.
His Accomplishments: Under his leadership three ministers have been Ordained and two installed as Pastors of church: Rev. Armogen Walker and Rev. Charles Oliver, respectively, and Rev. Goodman as Prison Ministry Chaplain. There have been Fifteen Ministers presented with Licenses, a number of deacons and deaconesses ordained. many have given their lives to Christ. Under His leadership the church is in the process of developing a Policy and Procedure Manual.
His Vision: Second Missionary Baptist Church is blessed to have a pastor with a vision, a pastor who studies the Word and loves to teach and preach! Pastor Gray's Vision is four fold: to Move the Wall: walls of apathy, misguided trust, extend the north wall of the Sanctuary, and rebuild the walls...to accomplish this he will continue to teach and pray that the flock will learn how to trust God completely, grasp the vision and take that leap of faith, knowing that God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in Heaven...then, and only then, can we build the wall for the future. The Scripture teaches, "That the cattle on thousand hills are his...He feeds the little birds...we have not, because we ask not, or we ask amiss..."We can be assured that God will never fail those whom he loves!
