Ray Shackelford comes from a musical family. His father, Ken, taught himself the piano and played in a band virtually all of his adult life. Ray started his musical journey playing drums and transitioned to the guitar while serving in the U. S. Army. Ray has been leading worship with his guitar at GraceLife Ministries for the last nine years where he is also the founding pastor.

Ray holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Bethany Bible College in Santa Cruz, Ca.; A Master of Divinity degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Ca. Ray especially enjoys introducing people to the wonders of making their own music on the guitar and watching them grow and develop their musical talents!

He and his wife Melissa reside in Trussville, and are the proud parents of an adult son and a daughter-in-law and a sweet 5-year-old granddaughter. In his 'off-time' Ray enjoys working in the yard and doing projects around his house. What he finds most rewarding are quiet evenings at home preparing home cooked meals together with his wife, walking their two dogs and settling in to watch a family TV show!