Alumnus Dr. Rodney Graves Making a Difference Among Vulnerable Populations
Dr. Graves and his wife, Ava.
Dr. Rodney Graves, DMin ’17, is making monumental waves in his congregation of McCabe Roberts Avenue UMC in Beaumont, Texas. It is a community that was overlooked in the past for their diverse culture and low-income families, but Dr. Graves and his wife, Ava, are on their way to putting this unique church on the map. With the census coming up, they wanted to be sure everyone in their community was not only counted, but heard. During a Martin Luther King Jr. parade in their town, they not only passed out water and cocoa to attendees, but helped register voters and gave information on the upcoming census. Their church is now a census site, and have received a grant for their work. The church will now be able to hire site coordinators, administrative assistants, and volunteers coordinators thanks to this grant. In addition, the grant will cover the cost for computers which will allow the church to host future informative community events.
To view the entire incredible story, click here. We are very proud of the Graves’ amazing work within their community and for the Kingdom. We are praying over them as their congregation grows and as they continue to educate and reach out to so many in their community.
To visit their church website and get more information on their congregation, click here.
Hey I’m Janet Lilly from your Father’s Church in Baltimore Maryland Calvary Baptist Church. I connected with you and met First Lady Ava when you were Assistant Pastor at St. Johns Baptist Church here in Houston. I’ve been here now about 15 years. I lost connection when you got your church. Glad to get able to hear you preach again. Great things you and Lady Ava are doing good luck and God bless. My Great Aunt was Beatrice Jackson that name may ring a bell for you. I’m through youngest of the Lilly gang. Glad to reconnect again.