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About Us
About Our Church
GraceLife is an informal church that has provided a welcoming community for believers since 2015. We hope to reach more people from all walks of life through our warm and friendly approach.
Get to Know Our Founding Pastor
A Life-Changing Encounter
Ray accepted an invitation from his uncle Howard Collett to attend church with him. Upon arriving, he quickly regretted his decision because it was one of “those” churches. The preacher screamed the entire time he spoke. His volume only went down as he began to give an altar call, during which the entire congregation went forward and were on their knees praying for Ray.
At that precise moment, an explosion occurred in the nearby mine shaft (Ruffner Mines), and it shook the church for several seconds. Ray was on his knees at the altar, after which he met Jesus Christ. He left there a new person and every bit a former hippie.
Academics
After being honorably discharged on June 19, 1974, Ray wasted no time tapping into his G.I. Bill to pay his tuition to Bethany Bible College in Santa Cruz, CA. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree there, having majored in theology and ministerial studies.
Ray taught high school at a private Christian school for one year before entering seminary training at Oral Roberts University (ORU). His interests changed, and he transferred from ORU to the renowned Candler School of Theology at Emory University, from which he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.
Ray taught high school at a private Christian school for one year before entering seminary training at Oral Roberts University (ORU). His interests changed, and he transferred from ORU to the renowned Candler School of Theology at Emory University, from which he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.
Wayward Youth
Dr. Ray Shackelford grew up as the son of very upstanding middle-class parents. However, in his middle-teen years, he succumbed to the “spirit of the age” and became immersed in the hippie culture of the late 60s and very early 70s. Fortunately, at the tender age of 18, he experienced a profound conversion to Christ, after which he was gloriously and miraculously saved.
Military Service
The next dramatic turn in Ray’s life came on June 19, 1972, when he entered the United States Army after being drafted only a few months earlier. Ray served in the army for two years and found that his time in the military was good for him. While serving in Korea, he felt his calling was in ministry.
Ministry
Ray and his beautiful wife, whom he had recently married, moved to a small town on the outskirts of Lubbock in Ralls, TX. After a year of ministry there, they relocated back to the Greater Birmingham area, and Ray resumed his studies. This time, he studied at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. From there, he graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree.
Ray was in a handful of associate and youth pastor positions, and then he became the founding pastor of GLM in 2015. He has enjoyed this ministry, where he has been able to focus on helping people understand not only what the Bible says but also what it means.
Being in a position to facilitate people’s spiritual growth and maturity has been a humbling and rewarding experience for him. After over 40 years of serving God, he continues to help others build strong relationships with the Lord.
Ray was in a handful of associate and youth pastor positions, and then he became the founding pastor of GLM in 2015. He has enjoyed this ministry, where he has been able to focus on helping people understand not only what the Bible says but also what it means.
Being in a position to facilitate people’s spiritual growth and maturity has been a humbling and rewarding experience for him. After over 40 years of serving God, he continues to help others build strong relationships with the Lord.