Rev. McCray photo
Rev. Raichera McCray

Raichera Venning McCray was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She is the eldest of 3 children born to Lennie and Raymond Venning. The family was members of Greater St John A.M.E. Church, under the leadership by Rev. Rosetta Gant Swinton. It was here in November 2003, where Raichera was a member since birth, that she gave her first sermon.

She was licensed to preach during the Palmetto Annual Conference in August 2004 and ordained an Itinerate Deacon in August 2008.

On February 14, 2009, Raichera married Byron P. McCray Sr. One of her greatest joys in life is being a supportive wife and nurturing mother of three, Skylar Alyse, Byron Pierre Jr., and Riley Dash. Raichera takes pride in her first ministry, which is her family.

In May 2009, Raichera graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting from Charleston Southern University. After graduation, she followed her dreams and moved to Washington, D.C. where she attended Howard University School of Divinity. In D.C., Raichera volunteered and supported many ministries at Reid Temple AME Church. There, she developed the online ministry, constructed programs for live streaming, developed a membership to discipleship manual, pastored those who was born in the month of February and learned how to operate a financial office of a church with a revenue of $20 million plus. She worked full time, mothered her children, supported her husband and went to graduate school part time before transferring to San Diego, CA with the US Navy.

In September 2013, she moved to San Diego, CA with her family. There, she joined Bethel Memorial A.M.E. Church. Raichera is currently a member and the Youth Pastor of New Philadelphia A.M.E. Church in Long Beach. In 2017, she received her Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology.

Raichera enjoys working out, and outdoor activities. She enjoys ministry and seeing God’s people saved through many forms of evangelism. While at Bethel, she was afforded the opportunity to be honored as a Woman in Ministry, spoke on the panel for the AKA debutantes, and serve as minister to young adults.

If God doesn’t bless her with anything else, she knows that her smile is God’s blessing for others. Sometimes the only Christ people may see is the Christ the lives within you.