Dr. Charles R. Gray, II is our Founder and President. Dr. Gray holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministry and Behavioral Sciences from East Texas Baptist University. A Master of Divinity Degree with specializations in Pastoral Ministry, Church Administration and Church Growth (People Group Strategies) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Gray has completed two Dual Ph.D. Programs through Oval Bible College. The first is Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and the Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Counseling. The second is the Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies and the Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Apologetics. In Addition, Dr. Gray holds the Doctor of Philosophy in Old Testament, Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament, Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Education, Doctor of Philosophy in Church Administration, Doctor of Chaplaincy, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Divinity Degrees from Saint Luke Evangelical School of Biblical Studies.
Dr. Gray has served as President and Executive Director of GraceLife Ministries USA since 1999 and Presiding Bishop since 2016. The calling of Dr. Gray & the Mission of GraceLife Ministries USA from the Lord is to reach the world with the message of God's Unconditional Love & Grace through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, to Make Disciples (empower believers through the Word), Prepare Leaders to positively impact their world and Plant Grace Communities (churches) to reach the lost and disciple the found. Dr. Gray believes that GraceLife University & Theological Seminary and GraceLife College of Biblical Studies & Seminary are the vehicles God has chosen to use to fulfill the missions to “Make Disciples” & to "Prepare Leaders to positively impact their world".
Dr. Gray’s Personal Commission from the LORD, that guides all that he does, is to bring Jesus Christ back to Central Place in the church by rolling away the stone and opening people’s eyes to reveal more of Jesus and His Finished Work. This is best illustrated by the story of Lazarus. In this story, Jesus commanded the people to roll away the stone from Lazarus’ tomb. Even though the people protested that Lazarus had already been dead for four days and that the stench would be terrible, Jesus persisted because He knew that Lazarus had been resurrected. Even though Lazarus was alive, the resurrection life could not flow as long as he was bound behind the stone. The stone had to be removed for resurrection life to come forth.
"That is what my ministry is about — rolling away the stone. There are many believers who have resurrection life because they have been born again, but they are not experiencing breakthroughs in their health, their finances, their family lives and their careers because they are bound hand and foot, trapped behind the stone. Before resurrection life can flow, the stone must be rolled away! The stone is a picture of the law. The law was written and engraved on stones, and as long as believers are under the law, the ministry of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7-9) binds them. My commission from the Lord is to roll away the stone from believers who are saved and born again. You need to remove the law that binds. When you roll away the stone, that’s when Lazarus comes forth, that’s when you see the glory of God, that’s when you see the finished work! There is no greater reward than to know that I have opened people’s eyes to see more of Jesus, more of His Grace, more of His beauty, and more of the exquisite perfection of His Finished Work." --Dr. Charles R. Gray, II
In 1994, while still a young minister, the Lord began to speak to Dr. Gray about founding a new Christian University in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Dr. Gray, then only a college graduate in Christian Ministry and yet to go to seminary, much less hold advanced degrees, began to consider and pray about the possibility. But the time never seemed right to begin such a venture. Dr. Gray virtually forgot about this vision for more than 22 years.
During the intervening years Dr. Gray went through many trials in his life including divorce, betrayals, and health issues. He was very wounded and unable to minister for many years. He sought complete healing—Spiritually, Emotionally, as well as Physically. Dr. Gray went through DivorceCare and Beyond DivorceCare programs at a local church. But, he knew that he needed far more healing than he had experienced at that time.
Dr. Gray continued his search to be transformed by the Power of God! He finally found his answer in Christ Jesus by being introduced to the Gospel of Grace teachings that is best exemplified by the ministry of Joseph Prince, Senior Pastor of New Creation Church, Singapore.
In his own words Dr. Gray shares what he found….
“I have learned about the Love and Grace of God toward us in a way that has transformed my life in many ways. My health has improved, my damaged emotions have been healed, my outlook on life has improved, and I have been given a new direction for ministry. I have a joy and peace that I had not known prior to this. God can and does restore, heal, and transform lives, not just save them!”
Dr. Gray began to search for an institution that trained people for Ministry and Discipled believers in a way that kept the Gospel of Grace central to all that they did, so that those they trained might be Positively Impacted In A Way That Transforms Lives, not just get them a degree. He was unable to find such an educational institution.
The Lord reminded Dr. Gray of the Vision He had given him so many years ago. After much prayer, Dr. Gray felt the Lord leading him to found such an institution and to train others in the scriptures with the Gospel of Grace being central to each course.
Dr. Gray established GraceLife University for those that wanted an academic approach to studying the Bible & Theology in a Higher Education setting. Once GraceLife University was Established & Launched, Dr. Gray sensed that there was more he could do to share the Liberating Truths of God's Unconditional Love, Grace, and Mercy with others. Dr. Gray wanted to share these truths with those who were not looking for a rigorous academic type of study in the scriptures, but a more simplified program for the “Average Joe” or “Average Jenny”, so after some prayer and thought, he was led to open GraceLife College of Biblical Studies!
More information can be found on these schools at:
https://gracelifeuniversity.org
https://www.facebook.com//GraceLifeUniv/
https://gracelifeministriesusa.org/welcome-to-grace
