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Rickey Bolden grew up playing and loving sports. By high school, he was an All-American in football and an All-State in basketball in Dallas, Texas. As a result, he obtained a full scholarship to SMU where he played football during college. He continued to do an outstanding job and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1984. Although he was drafted as a tight end, he soon gained 60 pounds and was playing on the offensive line where he remained until he retired in August 1990. Bolden then felt called by God to extend the love of Jesus to all through church ministry. He currently serves as senior pastor at Southeast Christian Fellowship, in Washington DC, where he extends Gods love and develops committed followers of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bolden is in the process of transforming the congregation from a traditional Brethren church to one that is a cutting edge ministry in the community. Rev. Bolden's main objective as a minister is to develop his congregation's and the community's faith in Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, and walking the walk.
Pastor Bolden continues to devote his life to sports ministry. He served as the chaplain for the Baltimore Ravens for a year, and has spoken at many chapel services for football teams playing in town against the Washington Redskins. In addition, he is the ministry provider for the athletic program at "The House", an inner city ministry with the mission to transform and empower the lives of inner city youth and their families through the love of Jesus Christ. Many youth and adults are learning about Jesus for the first time as they lift weights with Pastor Bolden in The House or play basketball with him on the courts.
Pastor Bolden lives in Bowie, Maryland with his wife Glenda. They have three sons, Joshua, Caleb, and Micha, and a daughter, Leah. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in American History. Pastor Bolden received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1992 and his Doctorate Degree of Divinity in 1998 from Ashland Theological Seminary. He was ordained as an American Baptist Minister in May 1992.
Editor's note: Eleven years ago, my daughter and Rickey's son spent some of their first days on earth, side by side, in incubators at Fairview Hospital. Although both children were severely underweight at birth, they are healthy today.
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