Alabama pastor James E. “Buddy” Gray was named one of the two 2023 Southwestern Seminary Distinguished Alumni, David S. Dockery, Southwestern president, recently announced. Gray and Dondi E. Costin, the new Liberty University president, will be honored at the annual Alumni and Friends Luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 14 in New Orleans.
“Buddy Gray and Dondi Costin are model Southwesterners whose exemplary ministries are worthy of honor with Southwestern Seminary’s Distinguished Alumni Award,” Dockery said. “Both men have served faithfully.”
Gray has served as the senior pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover, for 37 years. He was a part-time youth minister at Hunter Street while he completed his bachelor of arts degree at Samford University. He was promoted to associate pastor after a year of service as the youth minister. Gray held the role for a year before moving to Fort Worth to study at Southwestern.
He earned a master of divinity from Southwestern in 1983 and then served as pastor at Bush Memorial Baptist Church, Troy. In 1986 as a 29 year old, the Lord called Gray back to Hunter Street as senior pastor.
Gray also holds a doctor of ministry degree from Southern Seminary, where he served two terms on the board of trustees, including service as chair. Gray is a past president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
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