REV. DR. L. RONALD DURHAM - Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. L. Ronald Durham, senior pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, was called to preach at the age of sixteen, sought his higher education at Shaw University on full scholarship, received his earned Doctor of Pastoral Studeis degree from Evangel Christian University in Monroe, LA., Doctor of Sacred Theology from United Christian Seminary, Riverside, Ca., and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach.

He is not a man who seeks position, but he is one whom position seeks. He was Moderator of the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association and counselor to the National Black Caucus of Wash, DC immediately preceding his relocation to Florida, as well as a teacher for our National Baptist Congress of Christian Education for over 17 years.

Since coming to Daytona Beach, Dr. Durham spearheaded the creation of the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance of which he is the immediate Past President; became the first African-American to give the opening prayer at the Speedway’s Daytona 500 and Winn-Dixie races, and led his church in the construction of an 8,000 square foot multi-million dollar state-of-the-art childcare learning center www.FriendshipAcademy.net which opened in April of 2008, and has an enrollment in excess of 100 students.

As a civil servant, Dr. Durham is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Great Bethune-Cookman University, he sits on the Halifax Hospital Board of Associates, is chairman of Economic Development for the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance, a member of the NAACP, and is a former member of the Mayor’s Kitchen Cabinet.

Dr. Durham is a devoted husband, a loving father, and a friend to all who seek his sound spiritual council. In his 38-year ministry, he has been God’s birthing ground for exceptional pastoral leadership. He is the “spiritual father’ of six daughters and thirteen sons in ministry, who, like their spiritual father, aspire to teach sound biblical doctrine.

He is a visionary who takes his calling seriously and solemnly. His church has broken ground on a new state-of-the-art daycare facility for low-income families to be completed this summer.

Dr. Durham is an author and expositor. His book, The Secret Power of Prayer (www.SecretPowerofPrayer.com) by Townsend Press (Sunday School Publishing Board) is the bedside prayer bible of thousands. He is a writer for the Sunday School Publishing Board (Baptist Layman – 5 years; a 2005 Sunday School Commentary writer; Baptist Adult Quarterly Teacher’s Guide 2008-09; numerous articles in THE INFORMER).

Dr. Durham’s Tuesday night bible study class is the place to go for powerful, potent and persuasive teaching.

Dr. Durham is a humble and charitable man…without pretense or posturing. He does not promote or protect his pastorate or his position. For this reason, thousands of pastors around the world freely seek his advice by email, and call him FRIEND. He is presently training four of his seven associates for the ministry.

His objectives are complex, yet his demeanor is straightforward and uncomplicated. He just wants to lead the world to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.