BIO

Rev. Lloyd D. Gaines, Sr., graduated from Concordia University in Bronxville, NY and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO where he received his Master of Divinity in1984.

Rev. Gaines began work at the Southeastern District as the Mission and Ministry Executive for Black, Urban and Multi-Ethnic Ministries in April, 1997. Prior to joining the staff at the SED he served in Urban areas as a Lutheran Pastor at St. Phillips Lutheran Church, Cleveland, OH, for four years and Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Washington, DC, for nine years.

Under his leadership at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in DC, the church’s outreach ministries focused on the homeless, disadvantaged and youth in the community. Rev. Gaines received several awards for his outreach efforts in the DC area. His favorite programs at Mt. Olivet were the self-help groups and Kid’s house.

Rev. Gaines also served as a Circuit Counselor while at Mt. Olivet. He was a board member for Lutheran Social Services, Senior Citizen’s Programs and volunteered at Seaton Elementary, Shaw Junior High and Coolidge High School in the District of Columbia.

Currently, his primary focus is on making disciples and expanding the Kingdom through Ethnic Ministries. He has planted Havilah, a new ethnic ministry, in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Rev. Gaines and his wife, Paulette have three children and a granddaughter.