Dr. Reaves is a man of faith with over 26 years of pastoral leadership experience as civilian pastor and former U.S. Air Force Chaplain. As pastor of the historic Zion Baptist Church of Alexandria VA, he believes the visible church is the mission of Christ Jesus to serve the world as the "Beloved Community."
Early in life, God ordained Dr. Reaves' life. He was raised in a Christian home when he confessed Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior at the age of 10. He is a respected voice among progressive religious leaders, who believes our purposed-driven life is to follow the teachings and precepts of Christ Jesus at all cost. Dr. Reaves was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps to serve the pastoral needs of the military community and has held prominent positions within the military as Chaplain, Faith Group Chaplain, Senior Faith Group Chaplain and Installation Chaplain. As civilian clergy, he has served as Associate Pastor at the Saint James Community Baptist Church in Austin TX, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. E.M. Franklin, Senior Pastor; Student Pastor at the Greater Piney Grover Baptist Church of Atlanta GA, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. William Flippin, Sr., Senior Pastor; and Executive Pastor, Director of Counseling, and Executive Assistant to the President at the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Memphis TN, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Fred C. Lofton, Senior Pastor and President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Dr Reaves conducts individual, couple, and group counseling sessions utilizing meditation, affirmative prayer, and visionary evolution. He is Founder and CEO of Oasis Global Ministries, Inc,. a non-profit committed to rebuilding community residents through developing inner peace and strategic awareness in our everyday lives. Earning numerous honors and degrees, Dr. Reaves graduated from Park University in Parkville MO with the Bachelor of Science degree; as a Benjamin E. Mays Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa inductee, he obtained his Master of Divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta GA. While simultaneously enrolled in seminary and listed on the Nation Dean's List, he earned the prestigious Church Administrative and Management Graduate Certificate from The Institute of Church Administrative and Management in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Reaves was selected as a delegate as the inaugural Pan-Africanism Christian Church Conference in Accra, Ghana under the esteemed leadership of Dr. Nduga G.B. T'Ofori-Atta.
Dr. Reaves received his Clinical Pastoral Education certification from the Southern Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Georgia, and the Certificate of Executive Leadership Development from Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana. He completed all of the required studies at the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. He completed postgraduate studies at Wentworth College at the University of York in England, United Kingdom, and earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC. Dr. Reaves is a former adjunct professor at the Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta GA, Tennessee School of Religion in Memphis TN, the University of Maryland, Asian-Division, and the Auckland Park Theological Seminary in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has also received several professional leadership certificates, military decorations, and community citations.
If there's anything that Dr. Reaves would like for it to be said about him, he is a child of God!
