Pastor Glenn | imani-family

REV. GLENN D. GRAY - Senior Pastor of the Imani Family and Full Gospel Church came to Montreal and as a Visiting Minister from Forest Chapel C.M.E. Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in July 2010. Pastor Glenn met his wife Rachel (Bruno) Gray at that time and they were later on married May 7, 2011, and decided to live in Montreal and continue to attend and serve Imani Church.

Pastor Glenn was licensed at Imani Family and Full Gospel Church by Rev. Darryl G. Gray after becoming a member of Imani Church and has served as an Associate Pastor since joining the Ministerial staff shortly after. He has been Accredited as a Baptist Minister by the Quebec Association of Baptist Churches and the Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec, and was Ordained November 27, 2016 by those Associations through Imani Family and Full Gospel Church.

Pastor Glenn has served on the Executive Committee of the Quebec Association of Baptist Churches since 2016, shortly after Imani joined the Association in 2015.

From July 1, 2018, Pastor Glenn served as Co-Pastor of Imani Church with Rev Darryl Gray as Rev Gray was transitioning to resigning as Senior Pastor. He was recommended and selected as the Senior Pastor of Imani Family and Full Gospel Church effective January 1, 2019

Prior to moving to Montreal, Pastor Glenn spent most of his life in South Carolina. He is the Father of five adult children, one adult step-son, and fifteen grandchildren. He also enjoyed a fruitful and fulfilling Ministry in South Carolina, serving Prisons, Jails, Rehabilitation Facilities, Shelters and Forest Chapel Methodist Church. But as God would have it, He allowed him to be HERE.

Ministerial and Pastoral: Process and Journey

April 29, 2007, Initial Sermon- Forest Chapel C.M.E. Church, Spartanburg, South Carolina.

April 26, 2008, Official Ministry License- Forest Chapel C.M.E Church.

July 18, 2010, Ministry License- Imani Family and Full Gospel Church, Montreal, Quebec.

May 29, 2011, Congregational Meeting- Recommendation for Associate Pastor by Rev. D. Gray and approved by the Board of Elders; Recommendation moved by Pastor G. Francis, seconded by Elder V. Manly. Motion carried.

August 27, 2014, Approved for Leadership and Pastoral Training Program of the Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec, to begin process of being Accredited and Ordained with the Baptist Association and the Quebec Association of Baptist Churches and Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec. (Classes) Westmount Baptist Church, Montreal, Quebec.

April 20-23, 2015, New Pastors Orientation for Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec, Fair Havens Retreat, Beaverton, Ontario.

April 16, 2016, Completed Leadership and Pastoral Training Program, Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec and Quebec Association of Baptist Churches. Received Baptist Accreditation. Westmount Baptist Church, Montreal, Quebec.

October 3, 2016, Meeting with the Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec Credentials Committee, Main Offices, Mississauga, Ontario. Recommendation moved, seconded and motion carried for setting apart as an Accredited Pastoral Minister for Ordination.

November 19, 2016, Meeting with the Quebec Association of Baptist Churches Ordination Examining Council, Westmount Baptist Church, Montreal. Quebec. Recommendation for Ordination (with CBOQ & QABC) moved, seconded, and motion carried.

November 27, 2016, Ordination Service, (organized by) Imani Family and Full Gospel Church, (hosted by) Westmount Baptist Church, Montreal, Quebec, (both of the) Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec and the Quebec Association of Baptist Churches.

July 22, 2018, Congregational Meeting of Imani Family and Full Gospel (Baptist) Church; following the recommendations of the Imani Board of Elders June 16, 2018 Meeting and the approval of the recommendations by the Imani Joint Board July 19, 2018 Meeting, the recommendations to be appointed Co-Pastor from June 30, 2018 until December 31, 2018, after which, beginning January 1, 2019, become the Senior Pastor of Imani Family and Full Gospel (Baptist) Church, both were moved, seconded and motions carried by Congregational votes.

January 1, 2019, Began and officially assumed the office and duties as the Spiritual Leader, Teacher, and Senior Pastor of the Imani Family and Full Gospel (Baptist) Church.

1 Peter 5:2-4, Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as

overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but as examples to the flock;

and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown that does not

fade away.

Pastor Glenn Daniel Gray was born November 25, 1955 at the Chelsea Naval Hospital, near Boston, Massachusetts, to Paul N. Gray, (from) Campobello, South Carolina and Geneva E. Gray, (from) East Preston, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, near Halifax. The third of their six children.

Around the age of six years old, (Glenn), after living in Boston and spending much of the time in East Preston, the family, (my parents), decided to move to Spartanburg, South Carolina. Even after moving to South Carolina, the boys, (three other brothers), spent most summers in Nova Scotia with our Grandparents.

Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the “way” he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Being a part of the Church as a family was instilled and taught from early memories. Our Church home in Nova Scotia is the East Preston Baptist Church of Nova Scotia, (Pastor at that time), Rev. Donald Skier. And our Church home in South Carolina is the New Bedford Baptist Church, Campobello, South Carolina, (Pastor at the time), Rev. Alton Dodd.

Hosea 4:6, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Early education, life-lessons, and experiences gave us an awareness of pride in our Black culture. At the time that we moved to South Carolina, the “South” was segregated. We attended an all Black School, Abraham Lincoln Elementary and High School, with all Black teachers, staff, and administrators, including the Principle, who were all “first class educators” from all Black Colleges and Universities. Though the state supplied our school with everything second-hand, from buses, books and other learning materials, to hand me down sporting equipment; that did not make us feel inferior, instead it made us feel more resourceful and blessed to be able to do more with less. Because we lived in Black communities where everybody knew everybody and basically grew up together, we all seemed to share in the success of individuals from our communities, especially those who finished school and went on to College or even got a “good” job. These were the best experiences that I remember in my early life growing up in segregated South Carolina.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, Work with your own hands; that you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that you may have lack of nothing. My work experience came at an early age through our father who had acquired eleven rental houses and a community, (country), store that our Grandfather built and our father took over upon our Grandfather’s passing. We were expected to help out whenever and where ever there was work to do. Another job that taught me responsibility was working in our father’s community store which was the center of most of our community’s social activities. By the time I was twelve years old I was working at a Service (Gas) Station, pumping gas, washing cars and learning how to work on cars. At the age of fifteen I was working my first full time job at a Cotton Mill, for the Summer before my Junior year in High School.

Graduated (1973) from Paul M Dorman High School, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Joined the United States Army (1974) overseas duty Korea. Attended Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina (1976), also attended Limestone College, Gaffney, South Carolina (later).

My adult work experiences were for the most part in Manufacturing (operating machinery), long-time containerboard plant, producing and finishing (boxes); as well as the printing industry, (magazines, fliers for newspaper ads, etc.). Served on the Executive Board of my Trade Union many years while working for Mead Containerboard Corp.

Psalm 127:3-5, Children are a heritage of the Lord; As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. I am the father five (5) children, four sons and one daughter (all now adults), and fifteen grandchildren, who all live in the United States. I also have one step-son, (young-adult), here in Canada.

Sports have always been a huge part of my life. From early on I realized that was not born with “natural” athletic abilities, but was blessed with physical stature, sports mentality, sports understanding, sports intelligence and great work ethic. These gifts allowed me to play on and coach, Industrial League basketball teams for about twenty years. I also coached my four sons in Baseball and Football through various Little League and Athletic Associations in Spartanburg County, (mostly as Head Coach, both sports), within the span of twenty years.

Moving on in life I answered the call to the Ministry. Although I accepted the “call” while attending Forest Chapel C.M.E Church, Spartanburg, S.C., my call to the Ministry was revealed to me at Faith Home Christian Rehabilitation Home, Greenwood, S.C.

2 Timothy 2:15, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. While I was doing my ministerial training at Forest Chapel, I was blessed to share my experiences of hope and preach the Word of God at various ministries, shelters, rehabilitation programs and half-way houses, such as Faith Home, Greenwood and Cowpens, S.C.; Miracle Hill Ministries, Gaffney, S.C.; Lighthouse of the Carolinas, Greenwood, S.C., (to name a few); I was also a part of the Prison Ministries of the South Carolina Department of Corrections and the Greenville (S.C.) County Jail. And I was often asked to speak at various organizations such as the United Way, and Churches that supported and donated to these ministries. Those four fruitful years helped to prepare me for a more challenging and difficult work.

2 Timothy 4:2,5, Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

July 2010; While pondering with the decision to continue in the Ministry. I decided to visit my brother Rev. Darryl G. Gray in Montreal, Quebec, for a several weeks and to celebrate the “Fifth Anniversary” of Imani Family and Full Gospel Church, where he was the Senior Pastor. Before I arrived in Montreal, Rev. Gray informed me that I would be preaching the Afternoon Service. My sermon was “Celebration of a Commitment”, Luke 5:1-11, vs.11, they forsook all and followed Him. After this, I knew that Imani Family and Full Gospel Church would be my (future) Church Home.

The following week as my brother introduced me to his friend Rev. Thomas Fergus, Senior Pastor of BibleWay Pentecostal Church, Rev. Fergus invited me to preach at BibleWay that next Sunday. My sermon was “The Cure”, Romans 1, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.

Proverbs 18:22, Whoso finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord. During the time of my July 2010 visit to Montreal I met my wife to be, Rachel. Our relationship and plans to be married was the determining factor for me to move to Montreal. We were married May 7, 2011, at Imani Family and Full Gospel Church, 540 Richmond St. W., Little Burgundy, Montreal, Quebec by Rev. Darryl Gray and Rev. Thomas Fergus.

I began my service as a member of Imani Church, (as a License Minister both in Methodist and non- Denominational Churches), willing to do whatever was needed of me, (manual, administrative, spiritual). Eventually I was recommended to various Committees, Ministries, Boards, and Associate Pastor. I am very grateful to God for Blessing me with new beginnings here in the Montreal community, (and beyond) with new family members and a very multi-ethnic, culturally diverse and committed Church family.

2 Corinthians 6:1-10, We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the Grace of God in vain. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of Salvation. We give no offense in anything, that our Ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as Ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fasting; by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the Word of Truth, by the Power of God, by the armor of righteous on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. GOD IS GOOD!

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