Pastor Dwight Ray Montgomery was born on April 8, 1950. He is the second of three children born to Howard and Elizabeth Montgomery. He is the proud father of one son, Gamal; daughter-in-law, Saire; and grandson, Khalin. His religious foundation came from his parents and from his home church, Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Rev. W. L. Varnado.
Pastor Montgomery attended Memphis City Schools and graduated from Hamilton High School in 1968. He then proceeded to Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee to pursue undergraduate studies. In 1969, he became a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. As a popular and ambitious student on campus, he quickly emerged as a leader being voted president of Student Government for several years. He was also recognized by Who’s Who Among American College Students. In 1972, Pastor Montgomery graduated from Lane College.
After leaving Lane, he returned to Memphis and began work as an active community servant. He formed COBY, Coalition of Benevolent Youth, in 1974. COBY set the framework for many housing initiatives that still exist today. He became a board member of the Memphis Housing Authority serving in a volunteer capacity for 9 years and as chairman for 2 years. He was recognized as an Outstanding Black Young Man in America and was featured in Ebony Magazine.
In 1975, while actively working with COBY, Pastor Montgomery answered his calling to spread the Gospel. He delivered his first sermon on September 14, 1975 at Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church. The late Eugene Waller ordained him on December 7, 1975.
Eager to expand his evangelical work, he accepted the call from New Zion Missionary Baptist Church to serve as its pastor; he faithfully led his flock there for seven years. In 1984, the Lord created an opportunity for him to become pastor of Annesdale Cherokee Missionary Baptist Church. He was elected pastor in February 1985. He is the founder and chairman of the Faith-based Public Education Initiative (FBPEI) and the chairman of the Educational Committee for the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association. Numerous ministers who received God’s calling to preach under his leadership look to him as a mentor.
In addition to his work as a pastor, his strong presence is felt throughout the community in his fight against gangs, homelessness, poverty and other social ills. Pastor Montgomery, as president of SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), has been the most visible and vocal Faith-Based Leader advocating on behalf of Tenncare enrollees in the State of Tennessee. As a strong supporter of Public Education Pastor Montgomery was selected to receive the “Friend of Education Award” presented by the Memphis Education Association (MEA) 2006-2007, National Chairman of the fundraising effort to establish an endowment for the National Civil Rights Museum and coordinated numerous anti-graffiti, anti-blight, anti-crime, campaigns throughout the city for over 14 years. Other awards and recognitions include: 2006 Jesse H. Turner, Sr. Community Service Award, Memphis Alumni Chapter Kappa-Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; 2008 Eyes on the Prize Award, Labor and Civil Rights for Religion; 2008 African American Legacy Award, North Memphis District AME Church; 2008 Orchid Award, J.U.G.S. International Memphis Chapter; Lecturer, Ministers’ Division National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc. National Congress of Christian Education; Board Member, National Civil Rights Museum; Board Member, Tennessee Justice Center, Nashville, TN; Board Member, Operation Safe Community (OSC) Volunteer Council and Keynote Speaker for the 2008 African American Summit on Labor and Economics, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Ma. Due to his benevolent work and dedication to the city, he has appeared in many publications. Though many challenges have come his way as a pastor and leader, he exhibits resilience through it all wearing the whole armor of God.
|
