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Reverend Ralph Duke

Reverend Ralph C. Duke was born in Franklin, Virginia and raised in East Orange, New Jersey. His greatest blessing is beautiful wife and college sweet heart, Pamela Boyd, whom he married in 1976. Since then, God blessed their union with four daughters, two son-in-laws, and three grandchildren. At the age of five years, Ralph responded to a call of salvation at Allen Grove Baptist Church in Franklin, Virginia, where his grandfather, Rueben Baker, was pastor.

He received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Virginia State University, his MBA from Rutgers University, and a Master of Theology from John Leland Center for Theological Studies. With his MBA in Accounting, he had a very successful career that included working for companies such as Arthur Anderson, Johnson and Johnson, USA Today, British Telecom, NBC, and the WETA TV & Radio station. God blessed Ralph to climb the corporate ladder and become a Chief Financial Officer, and to be seated in corporate boardrooms.

A tremendous conversion occurred in his life when he received the call from the throne of God to preach His Word in 1985 at First Baptist Church in Vienna, Virginia. Soon thereafter, he was selected to serve as Pastor for Administration at Christ Fellowship Church (CFC) under the pastorate of Enoch Butler; the ministry grew from 52 people to over 500 people.

During his tenure at CFC, Pastor Duke was responsible for evangelism and mission outreach. Ever since being called to ministry in 1985, he is constantly searching for creative ways to share Christ.

From promoting Gospel fest to establishing homeless, prison, senior, youth and food ministries, to being the facilitator or part of a team for at least two foreign mission trips per year in countries including Haiti, Ghana, Liberia, Jamaica, Anguilla, South Africa, Panama, St Vincent, Cameroon, South Africa, and St. Maarten, Pastor Duke has a passion for missions and evangelism.

He has started several businesses such as CMD Promotions, which promoted Christian concerts and plays at places like the Kennedy Center and on the island of St Maarten. CMD Associates also provide financial accounting and tax services for various individuals, corporate, and non-profit businesses. In 1995, Pastor Duke and his family moved to St. Maarten to assist Pastor Alwyn Lake of the New Testament Baptist Church, support a daily soup kitchen, host a gospel radio program on the number one radio station (Jam’n 94.7) on the island, teach college accounting courses, and fulfill daily pastoral duties. Unfortunately, due to a major hurricane, his wife and children had to leave the island, while Pastor Duke assisted with the recovery.

Upon his return to the United States in 1997, God called him to pastor Beacon Hill Missionary Baptist Church (BHMBC). God blessed BHMBC in 1999 with the purchase of a small, under-utilized church building that BHMBC has transformed since by the development of partnerships with Hispanic and African ministries, and teamed with CFC to open a food bank here. BHMBC was selected as a Virginia State job site and was awarded a grant from U.S. Department of Labor to provide career development services. Pastor Duke and BHMBC continues to be involved as a facilitator for mission teams, support missionaries and students in Africa and the Caribbean, serve as one of the sponsors for a church plant in Atlanta, and team with other mission-minded groups across denominations.

He currently serves as Treasurer for North American Baptist Fellowship of Baptist World Alliance, Budget Director for Northern Virginia Baptist Association, and Church Administrator for Mount Olive Baptist.