The New Pastor of Durham Church Returns Home to North Carolina

DURHAM, N.C. - June 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Durham, NC--- Reverend Ronald Owens preached his inaugural sermon as the new Senior Pastor of St. Joseph A.M.E. Church, Father's Day Sunday, June 16, 2013.  Owens has returned to his North Carolina roots,  as a native of Morganton, NC, he received his license to preach in 1980 at Willow Tree A.M.E. Church, Morganton, North Carolina of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference. Rev. Owens was ordained an Itinerate Elder in 1985 in the Augusta Georgia Annual Conference, in the 6th Episcopal District. He has achieved a Master of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Psychology of Religion, Pastoral Care and Counseling in 1993, and his Doctorate of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary, 2013.

His doctoral  project, "Leading A Wounded Congregation To Mission Engagement", is the mission he will bring to the St. Joseph A.M.E. Church congregation. "My desire is for the Church to join God in the reconciling power of renewing relationships with one another and the community. We will reach out as Jesus said, 'to the least of those who have been overlooked or ignored.' "

Rev. Owens' inaugural sermon was entitled, "Honoring Mature Christian Fathers", the sermon was sprinkled with the history of Father's Day, along with lots of humor centering around family life. His emphasis on parental and family relationships, showed evidence of him being a licensed clinical pastoral counselor, and being the founder of the non profit organization, RELATIONSHIPS MATTER.

Owens is certified in Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Crisis Intervention. He has trained care providers in grief and suicide prevention. His ministry is one of reconciliation and the healing of souls. He is a retired U.S. Army Chaplain, having reached the rank of Major and being of service for 21 years.

Prior to being assigned to St. Joseph A.M.E.Church of Durham, North Carolina, he was the Senior Pastor of New Bethel A.M.E. of Lithonia, Georgia, since 2006.

Rev. Owens is married to the former Gwendolyn Rakestraw. He and his wife are the parents of three children, Ronald, Karawn and Ronnise, and have four grandchildren.