Ray Rhodes, Jr. is a Christian redeemed through the gospel of Jesus Christ, a husband and father, and a minister of the Word. He has served in pastoral ministry for thirty-seven years and in Christian ministry for nearly four decades.
Ray had been preaching for several years when, in 1989, he accepted the pastorate of Bethel Baptist Church near Waynesboro, Georgia. The Lord later led him to serve three additional churches, most recently Grace Community Church of North Georgia in Dawsonville, where he was founding pastor and served as senior pastor for twenty-two years.
He has preached in churches across the United States and in England, and his writing has appeared in journals, magazines, newspapers and books. A long-time Spurgeon enthusiast, Ray wrote his doctoral thesis on the marriage and spirituality of Charles and Susannah Spurgeon. That study led to Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon (2018) and Yours, till Heaven (2021), both with Moody Publishers. His newest book is Spurgeon: The Man Beyond the Pulpit from B&H Academic (2026).
Ray writes regularly about history, family and life, with a special emphasis on the world of Charles Spurgeon, at Ray's Writings on Substack.
Read Ray's WritingsNourished in the Word
In January 2026, Ray told the congregation of Grace Community that he would transition from the role of senior pastor to serve as minister and president of Nourished in the Word, Inc. The ministry had existed informally since 2002 and was recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in May 2026.
Ray's vision is for the ministry to be both weighty and joyful: substantive, enduring and rooted deeply in biblical truth, building not for momentary impact but for lasting fruit. As a parachurch ministry it comes alongside local churches, never to replace them, through preaching and teaching, pastoral care, renewal weekends for pastors and their wives, and counsel for churches.
Your ways, O Lord, are past finding out, but they are very gracious and tender; and this turning of seeming evil into good, of making your children’s trials grow into triumphs, and their pains into pleasures, is a wonderful proof both of your pity and your power.
Susannah Spurgeon
Family
Ray has been joyfully married to Lori since August 15, 1987. God has blessed them with six daughters, four sons-in-law and eleven grandchildren. Lori serves alongside Ray in the ministry, especially in caring for pastors' wives.
Speaking
Ray speaks at conferences, retreats, chapel services, book clubs and churches large and small. Speaking invitations are handled through Nourished in the Word.
- Charles and Susie Spurgeon
- Marriage and family
- Family worship
- Biblical spirituality
- Encouragement for pastors and their wives
- Writing biography and history
