To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Ray Lewis, Jr. and I noticed your church's posting online for a pastor. In the event that you are still searching, I would like to offer myself for your consideration. To that end I have copied my resume onto the body of this message.
I thank you for your time and attention,
Reverend Ray Lewis, Jr.
The Reverend Ray Lewis, Jr., B.A., M.Div.
751 North Meadow Street #11
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18102
***********@*****.***
OBJECTIVE To have a career where my gifts and talents are used to help others reach their full potential in the areas of mind and spirit. I wish to be a minister that empowers people, while reminding them of their need for God and other people.
EDUCATION
Care & Counseling Center of Georgia
Grady Health System, Atlanta, Georgia (Clinical Pastoral Education
Program) Third unit completed: November, 2011. Fourth unit completed: April, 2012. Fifth unit completed August, 2012.
Detroit Medical Center
Sinai-Grace Hospital, Detroit, Michigan (Clinical Pastoral Education Program) Second unit completed: August, 2011.
Intercultural Association for Missions and Ministries Satellite
Veteran Affairs Hospital, Detroit, Michigan (Clinical Pastoral Education Program) First unit completed: December, 2004.
Columbia Theological Seminary
Decatur, Georgia.
Doctor of Ministry Program (Presently pursuing.)
Candler School of Theology at Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia.
Master of Divinity, May 2003.
Morehouse College
Atlanta, Georgia.
Bachelor of Arts in Religion, May, 1998.
CREDENTIALS
Licensed to Preach: Sunday, April 24, 2005
Ordained as a Minister: Sunday, October 16, 2005
(Both the license and ordination were granted by Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in partnership with the American Baptist Churches of America.)
EXPERIENCE
11/12 – Present: St. Luke’s University Health Network: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Hospice Staff Chaplain
Responsibilities include but are not limited to ministering to patients, caregivers, staff and families where people are receiving hospice care through counseling, spiritual support, pastoral visits, and companionship through times of grief and bereavement as needed. In addition to this my area of responsibility includes responding to emergency situations where people are passing away or having difficulties with losing loved ones, as well as teaching volunteers how best to serve with a sensibility toward matters of the spirit. Further it is my duty to remind members of the interdisciplinary hospice care team of the spiritual dimension of a patient and family’s experience during times such as those we address.
08/11 – 08/12: Grady Health System: Atlanta, Georgia
Chaplain Resident
During my one – year residency program, responsibilities included, but were not limited to offering pastoral care to patients, family members, and staff members during times of crisis and difficulty. Specific care included empathic listening, counseling, prayer, scripture reading, baby blessing, bereavement counseling, and whatever else might be needed to help persons deal with their moments of crisis. I specialized in ministry to patients with cardiac concerns, HIV/AIDS, young men who have suffered from gunshot wounds and men who were incarcerated. Further responsibilities included planning, leading and preaching in weekly worship services, as well as teaching and mentoring Chaplain Interns. All of this was done while juxtaposing hospital ministry experience with theoretical knowledge offered by program supervisors and directors.
06/11 – 08/11: Sinai Grace Hospital: Detroit, Michigan
Chaplain Resident
Responsibilities were the same as the aforementioned chaplaincy position.
12/06 – 08/ 09: VITAS Innovative Hospice Care; Southfield, Michigan (transferred to Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Chaplain & Bereavement Services Manager
Responsibilities included, but were not limited to being a pastor for those who did not have one, offering spiritual care to hospice patients and their families as part of an interdisciplinary team through making visits to nursing homes, hospitals, private homes and funerals, supporting staff members working in the realm of end of life care, teaching various healthcare professionals through workshops on the many facets of grief and loss, offering bereavement support through visits, numerous mailings, phone calls, as well as planning and executing memorial services and support groups. I worked on a partnership aimed at getting more minorities to access hospice services through linking Hartford Memorial Baptist Church with VITAS Innovative Hospice Care.
09/06 - 08 /08: Wayne County Community College; Detroit, Michigan
Part-Time Faculty Member, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Responsibilities included teaching introductory level courses in philosophy and religion wherein students improved their analytical skills by studying logic and critical thinking. In addition, I taught students to hear many voices, not just those from their own contexts, but from various perspectives and places. Further I taught courses for young men recently released from prison to get them acclimated to college life and hopefully prevent re-entry into the correctional system.
01/05 – 12/06:Westminster Church of Detroit; Detroit, Michigan
Associate Pastor & Youth Pastor
Responsibilities included but were not limited to assisting the Senior Pastor in the areas of teaching various Bible study courses, preaching, conducting church growth seminars, officiating at weddings and funerals, leading and developing small groups, offering pastoral care through visitation and counseling, leading and planning worship services, attending various committee meetings as assigned, developing a young adult ministry, planning and leading youth worship services, mission work for the youth, along with bi-monthly youth group meetings and youth group trips. At the time of the departure of the Senior Pastor, my responsibilities grew to include all major roles of the senior pastor until a stated supply pastor was put in place, along with the aforementioned youth responsibilities.
09\04- 12\04: Detroit Medical Center: Detroit Veterans Affairs Hospital:
Detroit, Michigan
Chaplain Intern
Responsibilities included, but were not limited to offering pastoral care to patients, family members, and staff members during times of crisis and difficulty. Specific care included empathic listening, counseling, prayer, scripture reading, bereavement counseling, and whatever else might have been needed to help persons deal with their moments of crisis. Responsibilities also included planning, leading and preaching in worship services. All of this was done while juxtaposing hospital ministry experience with theoretical knowledge offered by program supervisors and directors.
01\04- 10\09: Hartford Memorial Baptist Church; Detroit, Michigan
Associate Minister
My time at Hartford was spent mostly with the senior high members of the youth group. I generally assisted with leading youth retreats, and youth revivals. Further I lead the young people in worship on Sunday Mornings, along with delivering the children’s sermon at least once per month. In the main sanctuary, I assisted with anointing during the pastoral prayer and christenings. During the summer, fall and winter months of 2007, I was the preacher for a weekly prayer service that took place in the church’s chapel. Also I was responsible for preaching at least once each month during the Saturday night contemporary worship service. For this I flew to Detroit, Michigan monthly.
09/00 - 04/02 Candler School of Theology Contextual Education Program;
Atlanta, Georgia
Ministerial Intern (Student Pastor) / Assistant Chaplain
As part of a two-year internship program, my responsibilities included transcription of a pastor’s sermon notes, assisting ministers with preparation of sermon manuscripts, sharing concepts taken from seminary preaching and biblical studies courses with church leadership, assisting in the formulation of a program wherein church leaders were forced to think critically and honestly about theological issues, gaining experience in the areas of liturgy, preaching, pastoral care, administration, teaching and youth ministry. Further I was presented with opportunities to visit nursing home residents who suffered from various stages of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, also chances to discuss issues of self-care with family members of residents and staff members. I was given the space to plan and lead devotional services for residents and offer pastoral care. All of this experience was juxtaposed with theoretical models, and critique presented in a weekly
class seminar.
09/99 - 01/00 Western International High School; Detroit, Michigan
English Teacher
Responsibilities increased from filling a vacancy in a senior high English Department for a number of days to teaching high school seniors who spoke English as a second language, teaching British literary classics, giving foundational instruction on putting together research papers as well as personal statements for college applications.