Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale is the founding and Senior Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia. Ray of Hope has an active membership of 5,000 and an average of 1,500 in worship each Sunday morning. In 2001, the 700 Club honored the Ray of Hope Christian Church as Church of the Week. The Ray was also recognized in the book, Excellent Protestant Congregations: The Guide to Best Places and Practice, as one of 300 excellent Protestant congregations in the United States.
Dr. Hale is a native of Roanoke, Virginia. Her natural talent in music led her to study at Hollins College in Virginia, from which she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University and a Doctorate of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. She holds three Honorary Doctorates of Divinity.
Dr. Hale has received many honors and awards marking her accomplishments in and contributions to the state of Georgia and beyond. She was inducted into the African American Biographies Hall of Fame and the Martin Luther King's Board of Preachers, Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Hale was privileged to be the first woman to serve as Chaplain of the Day for the opening session of the Georgia State Senate in January 2004. In April 2004, Dr. Hale was awarded the James H. Costen Award in Religion, which recognizes persons who exhibit moral, spiritual, and intellectual leadership in their chosen profession. On May 12, 2004, Dr. Hale served as Chaplain of the Day for the U.S. House of Representative at the Capitol in Washington, DC.
In February 2005, Dr. Hale was honored by Sisters in the Spirit recognizing her sacrifice, dedication, strength, wisdom, and ability to bring about order and change in ministry and the community. On April 29, 2005, Dr. Hale received the Spiritual Enlightenment Award during the 13th Annual Trumpet Award Prayer Breakfast held in Atlanta, Georgia. In September 2005, Dr. Hale served as the convener for her first Women In Ministry Conference that hosted women from various stages in ministry.
In May 2006, Dr. Hale was elected to the Board of Trustees of Hollins University, where she received her undergrad degree. On June 8, 2006, Dr. Hale was elected to the office of Necrologist for the Hampton Ministers' Conference. In September 2006, Dr. Hale received the Religious Leadership Award during the 2006 Sister of African Descent: Connecting Spirituality, Religion and Vocation Global Conference.
On February 10, 2007, Dr Hale received the 2007 Pinnacle Leadership Award presented by the Fortitude Educational and Cultural Development Foundation, Inc. and the East Point College Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. On September 28, 2007, Dr. Hale received the Ambassador of Christian Excellence Award presented by Yolanda Adams Radio Morning Show in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Hale serves as Secretary of the Board of Beulah Heights Bible College, Chairperson of City of Hope Ministries Inc. Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference and Chair of the 21st Century Vision Team Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Dr. Hale is also honored to be an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Hale has been in ministry for 29 years. Her ministerial gift has drawn thousands, young and old, to witness the anointing on a woman totally sold out for the Kingdom of God. She has traveled abroad preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sharing the "Good News" in Africa, Australia, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America. Dr. Hale is a woman on a mission to impact and transform this present world into the Kingdom of God.