The Reverend Dr. Dray A. Bland
The Reverend Dr. Dray A. Bland is a native of Haines City, FL, where he spent the majority of his formative years. The Reverend Dray Bland received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the Friendship Baptist Church of Dundee, FL. The Rev. Dray Bland surrendered to the gospel ministry at an early age, was licensed to the Gospel ministry in March 1999 and was ordained July of 2007 by the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Dundee, FL under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Edward E. Bland.
The Rev. Dr. Dray Bland was educated in the public schools of Polk County, FL. He matriculated at Florida State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Political Science and Religion as well as a Certificate of Public Administration. While studying at FSU, Dr. Bland was inducted into the Garnet and Gold Key Honor Society. After completing FSU he attended seminary at Duke University Divinity School where he received the Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Baptist Studies. Dr. Bland earned his Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership at Southern Methodist University (Perkins School of Theology).
The Reverend Dr. Dray Bland was elected Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church on November 17, 2023 and preached his first Sermon on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023. Previously served as Executive Pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville and Franklin, TN where he was responsible for securing their Franklin Campus location. In addition to his ecclesiastical work, he is also a commitment to the academy having previously served as Director of Missions and Outreach and Adjunct Professor at Belmont University. Prior to moving to Nashville, Dr. Bland served as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church-Apple Street of Burlington, NC. He has also served the First Institutional Baptist Church of Phoenix, AZ as Executive Pastor under the leadership of The Rev. Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr., Senior Pastor. Previously, Dr. Bland served 4 ½ years as the Assistant Minister/Minister of Discipleship at the United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church of Winston-Salem, NC under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Prince R. Rivers. Dr. Bland has served congregations in Florida and North Carolina in the capacities of Youth Pastor and Associate Pastor respectively. In addition to his service to local churches, he also served as President of the National Baptist Youth Convention of America (2006-2008). Dr. Bland pastor service include: serving as one of the youngest members of the General Board of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Alamance County and Vicinity, and as the Chair of the Board of Directors of A.M.O.S of Alamance, a faith-based human services non-profit. Dr. Bland was named Faith Columnist for the Burlington-Times News, the first African American named to this post (2017-2019). Dr. Bland is married to the love of his life Reanne Rochelin Bland. Together they share the love of two wonderful children Daelyn and Devyn.