The Rev. Richard Griffiths was born in Jamaica in 1981. He and his family migrated to the United States in 1985.
He attended elementary school in Mt. Vernon, New York and both junior and high schools in Queens, where his family subsequently settled.
Rev. Griffiths earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Binghamton University, New York.
An avid sportsman, Griffiths competed as a track and field athlete, specializing in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash and relay.
While at Binghamton, he participated and led a mentoring initiative, pairing at-risk junior high school students from Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Manhattan with university mentors to forge healthy relationships and guide students towards higher education.
Griffiths continued his studies and received a Masters of Arts in New Testament Biblical Literature from Alliance Theological Seminary.
He is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and has served in various denominational capacities.
Griffiths is currently Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene’s young adult pastor and the executive director of the Bronx Bethany Community Corporation.
As pastor, he oversees the spiritual growth and development of individuals and families ages 19-40.
As executive director, Griffiths leads various community services, resources and partnerships, such as arts-based after school enrichment; summer camp programming; weekly community food distribution; and standardized test preparation, to name a few.
A pianist and percussionist, Griffiths is passionate about music, and serves as an advisory board member of the Bronx Music Heritage Center.
He is married to Yanique who is also a partner in the ministry. The two have a two-year old son Seth, and a two-month-old daughter Hannah.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Jamaica
EDUCATION:
Alliance Theological Seminary, Masters of Arts in New Testament Biblical Literature
OCCUPATION:
Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, young adult pastor
PERSONS I ADMIRE MOST:
Griffiths admires most his parents Kempton and Maureen Griffiths “for their countless sacrifices, devout commitment to the Lord, and their love for people and community revitalization”.
BEST QUOTE:
“Teach us to number my days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12, NIV
