Escambia Association, new director of missions

Wendell W. Ray is the new director of missions for Escambia Association. He will begin Jan. 21. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in religion from Auburn University and a master of divinity degree and a doctor of ministry degree in preaching from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He has served as director of church and missions development at Covington Association and also previously served as pastor of several churches including First Church, Gulf Breeze, Fla., and First Church, Murray, Ky. He and his wife, Melissa, have two children.