Reverend Kenneth Ray Hammond was installed as pastor of Union Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina in January 1992 after accepting the call in August 1991. Pastor Hammond is many things to many people. More specifically, he is a shepherd to his church family, a husband to his wife, a father to his children, a leader in his community and a scholar to academia. With over thirty years of pastoral ministry, Pastor Hammond remains faithful to serving God which is evident through his unique and energetic preaching style which often consists of "Divine Emails" and "Momentary Detours."
During his tenure at Union Baptist Church the membership has grown by more than 3,000 new disciples to a total of more than 4,500. More than 20 new ministries have been launched and the church has moved from a single ministry staff to a multi-ministry staff of nine and a volunteer staff of thirteen. The church's budget has increased by more than $2 million dollars and an endowment has been established. Building upon the highly success of Durham Scholars Program, Pastor Hammond is leading the effort to erect a Kindergarten ~ 8th grade fully endowed private school where children in Northeast Central Durham may attend tuition free. Construction of the 47,000 square foot school is now underway.
Before coming to Union, Pastor Hammond served as pastor of Mount Shiloh Baptist Church in Williamston, North Carolina and Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Greenville, North Carolina. He also served as the Youth Minister for Mount Shiloh Baptist Church in Winterville, North Carolina. In addition to his ministerial service, Pastor Hammond has served East Carolina University as the Associate Director of the Department of University Unions and as Assistant Director and Program Director for the school's Mendenhall Student Center. During his work at East Carolina University, Pastor Hammond was involved with facilitating numerous groups including a support group for battered women and an anger management group for abusers mandated by the courts to receive counseling.
His days at East Carolina can be traced to his undergraduate years where received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Master of Arts in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Study. Pastor Hammond earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and doctoral studies at North Carolina State University. His scholastic achievements are marked by his inductions into Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Who's Who in Education and Who's Who Among Black Americans. In 2001, Gospel Today Magazine named Pastor Hammond as one of America's Most Loved Pastors. In October 2007, he was recognized by Christian Tools of Affirmation (CTA, Inc.) as its National Pastor of the Year.
He is past moderator of the American Baptist Churches of the South, Area III, and a past member of the American Baptist Churches of the South Board of Directors; member of the General Board and Executive Committee of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Inc.; a member of the General Board of the Lott Carey Foreign Missions Convention. For the past six years, Pastor Hammond has served as a Team Leader for the Lott Carey Foreign Missions Convention facilitating international immersions for pastors throughout the country.
He has also served as president of the Shaw Divinity School National Theological Alumni Association and on the Board of Directors of Shaw Divinity School; chaired the Executive Board of the East Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Association as well as serving as president of the Congress of Christian Education; and held offices in the Old Eastern Missionary Baptist Association, including that of moderator.
Since coming to Durham, Pastor Hammond has used his many talents for the betterment of the Durham community. He is on the Board of Directors for the Greater Durham YMCA, the Habitat for Humanity, the Durham County Hospital Corporation, New Vision Community Development and the Joyland Foundation. He also serves on advisory boards for the Durham Scholars Program and the Durham Housing Authority.
Most of all, Pastor Hammond is a family man. He is married to the former Evelyn Louise Patrick, a computer technology teacher, and the father of Kennetta Hammond Perry and Brandon Timothy Hammond. |
