Pastor R A Staley is a native of Far Rockaway, New York and holds a degree in organizational management from Nyack College.  He is married to Lady Lauren L. Staley, and the father of two blessed children, Nia Simone and Aaron Rasahn. He was ordained an Elder by the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (COOLJC) in 2007. He served as the Assistant Pastor of his home church, the Refuge Church of Christ, located in Far Rockaway, NY for over nine years and in June 2022 was appointed Senior Pastor by his Father in the Gospel, Bishop Leroy Joseph Sr.

 

Staley developed a love for community through service in his church under the leadership of Bishop Leroy Joseph, where he has served in several different capacities over the years, ranging from sound technician, musician, and youth leader.  He was an active participant in recovery efforts after Super Storm Sandy, which ultimately led him to return “home” and begin working in the New York City public school system.  In 2014, Staley began working with the Far Rockaway Educational Campus as a Community School Director to find ways to connect the school and community, providing resources and services to students, families and the surrounding neighborhoods.  He also works with the Far Rockaway Arverne Nonprofit Coalition, and a Councilmanic Dropout Prevention Taskforce (District 27). 

 

Proverb 18:16 says, “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men”, he is a community organizer, national evangelist, highly respected youth/young adult leader and advisor to the organization’s Young Ministers Alliance.  Not just pastor and preacher, Staley is the president and CEO of RA Staley Ministries which released his first book, Look & Live, in 2021 and debut music project, Overcomers’ Night Live in 2023.   

 

In every effort he makes for the Kingdom, it is Elder Staley’s assignment to galvanize the remnant of believers still committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, introduce a new generation to Him, and bridge the gap between the two.