Dr. Drexel Rayford
Drexel Rayford has been senior pastor of four churches in Kentucky and Virginia, a chaplain in the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry, and did a brief stint as the coordinator of international partnerships for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. He holds a Ph.D. in the Psychology of Religion and a Pastoral Counseling certificate from the University of Louisville, Department of Psychiatry. An erstwhile indie singer/songwriter/story-teller with a number of recordings under his belt, Drexel currently works with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medicine, Department of Pastoral Care in the capacity of The Support Team Network manager, a hospital-based community partnership aimed at nurturing healing communities for discharged patients. He continues to exercise his passion for preaching and teaching as pastor of Cottondale Christian Church. Drexel has written numerous articles in the field of pastoral theology and most recently published a book entitled, Species With a Call: How We Find Purpose for Our Lives Through the Power of What We Love. He loves road cycling, hiking, and all kinds of
photography, writing songs and stories. Drexel is married to Vicki and together they have three adult children.