For Pastor Raymond D. Hollis, Jr., worship is the essence of his heart. Coming from a family of ministry leaders where his father, the late Raymond D. Hollis, Sr. served as the Senior Pastor for Friendship it was truly ordained for God to call Pastor Ray to continue the work that had been started.

In the early 1990's, Pastor Ray served diligently as the minister of music for ten years under the leadership of Bishop Robert F. Hargrove, Jr., when God called him to move his family to Hickory, NC becoming the Associate Pastor over the music department for The Favor Center Church where he was mentored by Dr. Jerry Grillo, Jr.

After serving as an Associate Pastor for the music department for The Favor Center Church under the leadership of Dr. Jerry Grillo, Jr. for eleven years, he answered the call to become Senior Pastor of Friendship Family Worship Center located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was installed in July 2014 and he's currently attending AMES International School of Ministries for Biblical Studies. ?

His time in North Carolina, along with his ten years of leadership training in the ministry afforded him over 20 years of ministry leadership experience which prepared him to answer the call to shepherd God's people. Not only has his leadership influenced the church arena it has also allowed him to work diligently in the community.

He served as part of the marketing committee on the Catawba Valley Community College Office of Multicultural Affairs, which planned a five-part series of events annually highlighting the diverse groups within Catawba County. He was the talent coordinator and overseer of all entertainment for all events. He received an Outstanding Community Leadership Award for his work and service for the Office of Multicultural Affairs of CVCC.

Pastor Ray's heart is to do exactly what the Bible commands him as a shepherd and that's to feed God's sheep, His people, His church. Pastor Ray believes in the very ministry and mission of Jesus Christ in which Jesus recited from the book of Isaiah 61:1-5. Like Jesus, his mandate is to preach salvation to the lost, to give love to those who do not know love, to feed those who are hungry and to use his authoritative call through His Spirit to set those who are bound free. He's a visionary and his mission is to "love our city to life". ?

Pastor Ray and his wife Shonda celebrate 25 years of marriage. He's been blessed with three sons, LeRon, Raymond III, Isaiah and a daughter Zinia.