About Our Pastor
Pastor Stephen Grays began his Pastorate in Royse City, at New Hope Baptist Church, on May 18, 2016. If you have had opportunity to speak with him, you will readily recognize that he is a very outgoing and loved person in this area. Pastor Grays will tell you he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The oldest of 4 siblings, he was born to the parents of Frank Pruitt and the late Michelle Grays in Dallas, TX. He has consistently been involved with the church since a youth at Morning Star Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Howard D. Gill and the late Rev. Willie Fred Smith. While a member there, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. Rev. Grays has always had a love for music. His ardor for ministry while directing choirs as a young man at Morning Star Baptist Church. After doing so for a number of years, the family moved their membership to Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, where the late Rev. Hardin L. Ward served as pastor.
Pastor Grays was educated in the Dallas Independent School District and is a proud 1988 graduate of Lincoln High School. Upon graduating high school he continued his education while attending respected colleges and universities including:
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East Texas State University
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Wayland University
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Jarvis Christian College
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El Centro Community College
In 1991, while in college, Rev. Grays was called to preach the gospel as a member of the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Hardin L. Ward. Being led by the Holy Spirit, Rev. Grays preached his initial sermon.
With the gift of music and singing, he has been blessed with opportunities to serve as musician, minister of music, and an associate minister at many churches. Rev. Grays is married to his beautiful wife, Jennifer (Wilson) Grays. They have been married for 20+ years. She is the apple of his eye and the pitter pat of his heart. He is proud father to 4 Children: sons Willie, Kieron, Dalvin (Julia), and daughter Leighah. He is also the proud grandfather of 2 boys: Dalvin Jr. (DJ) and Kenneth.
While serving as a Musician and on the Ministerial Staff at Tabernacle of Praise Baptist Church, Rev. Grays was licensed by Rev. Anthony E. Sharp II on April 23, 2000. He then served as Musician and Associate Minister at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, where Rev. Leonard R. Davis was the Pastor. After his time there, Rev. Grays was called to to serve as the Minister of Music at New El Bethel Baptist Church, where Rev. Dr. Timothy Brown serves as Pastor. Once his season was finished there, Pastor Grays was called to the New Hope Baptist Church and served as the Minister of Music for 4 years.
Rev. Grays had no ambition to pastor the New Hope Baptist Church. However, after the pastor left in 2015, the church overwhelmingly elected that Rev. Grays become the next pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church in 2016. Rev. Grays was ordained by Rev. Dr. Timothy Brown at New El Bethel Baptist Church on May 29,2016. Pastor Grays preached his first sermon as the Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church on June 5, 2016. He was installed as the Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church on June 26, 2016.
Rev. Grays loves people and has always been active with his community. Since college, he has worked with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and has been a teacher with Dallas ISD. While currently a Materials Manager at Medical City Dallas, Rev. Grays continues to work diligently with the community, city, and the county as a bi-vocational pastor. He currently holds the position of Chaplin for the Royse City Police Department.
“Now, let’s give the Lord a big hand clap of Praise”