MINISTERIAL STAFF
REV. REGINALD & VENITA FREY
Pastor and Wife
Rev. Reginald Frey served as the senior pastor of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church West for 15 years. Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church West is located in Dayton, Ohio and serves the west side community.
After graduating from Springfield High School in 1983, Rev. Frey served his country in the United States Army from December 1983 to October 1991. During his time in the Army, he lived in Germany, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas. He gained the rank of Sergeant during his military career, and received various accommodations as a good soldier in the Army.
After being honorably discharged from the United States Army, Rev Frey, took a position with the United States Postal Service where he worked for 30 years. Soon after, he relocated to Dayton, Ohio and united with Good Samaritan Baptist Church (Dayton, Ohio), where in August 2001 he accepted God’s call on his life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was just the beginning of the divine call on his life. In January 2006, he was selected by Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church (Dayton, Ohio) to serve as the Youth Pastor.
Rev. Frey is often seen as a humble and quiet man who lives to please God by loving, leading, and lifting the people of God into the things of God. To this end, Rev. Frey knows and understands that a call to preach & pastor is a call to preparation.
He has a drive and passion for the academy and has taken the A.T.E.P. classes sponsored by Payne Theological Seminary and has also matriculated in the Bachelor of Science program; school of Social Work at Wright State University with a minor in religion.
He is now in the process of working on his Masters in Divinity at Virginia Union University since Feb 2022.
He has also been enrolled in the CPE Program (Chaplain) at Kettering Hospital since September 26, 2022. He has obtained all four units of CPE and is now preparing for board certification.
He is blessed with a 38-year-old helpmate, Minister Venita Frey. From this union, God has blessed them with three daughters (Jasmine, Shaneese, and Ikea), three granddaughters (ShaMyra, Alyce, and Ryleigh Monae), and one grandson, Julius.
He was also the caregiver for his mother, Alice Marie Frey, in Springfield, Tennessee, who was a faithful member of Mt Pleasant Baptist Church until her passing on March 15, 2024.
After serving faithfully for 15 years as the Pastor of the Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Frey has now heard the Lord's voice again for his new assignment as the Pastor of the Harvest Grove Missionary Baptist Church ( Dayton, Ohio).
Rev. Frey loves God and lives by this premise: “We don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).
REV. ROBERT J. JACKSON
Pastor Emeritus and Wife
In May 1994, Pastor Robert J. Jackson was called to pastor Harvest Grove with 100% of votes for the first time at Harvest Grove. Pastor Jackson came with much love for the people. He gave his time and talents, as well as his money. He never asked the church to do anything without leading the way. He encouraged us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we build God’s church. He set the example for us here at Harvest Grove by teaching us to love one another as God loves us all. It had not been easy for Pastor Jackson, but he continued with his beautiful wife (Evelyn Jackson) to teach us how to love one another by teaching God’s word and his example of love toward his congregation. Pastor Jackson retired on December 31, 2014, after 20-plus years of service. Although retired, Pastor Jackson continues showing his passion and dedication to the Harvest Grove family by remaining an active pastor emeritus.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
REV. EDNA LEWIS
Associate Minister
As many of you may know, I have always believed in the importance of studying to achieve a certain status, as it is a requirement for ministry knowledge. This belief is deeply rooted in the Bible, which lauds studying so we may rightly divide the word of truth. I firmly believe that one of the greater truths the Christian minister absorbs within her/his spirit is the profound teachings of Matthew 25:31-36.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Reverend Lewis, a trailblazer in her own right, graduated with a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. She has broken barriers and paved the way for others as the first female chaplain at the Dayton VA and the first Protestant chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She became a member and associate minister at Harvest Grove MBC Dayton, Ohio, in 2011.
REV. Ronald Ford
Pastor Emeritus
Pastor Ronald Ford is a native of Birmingham, AL, and was born the second son of the late George Sr. and Ella Ford. He moved to Dayton, OH, at an early age. Pastor Ford attended the Dayton Public Schools and graduated from the Jefferson Township school system.
Pastor Ford's unwavering commitment to his faith was evident from an early age. He was baptized at Mount Olive Baptist Church, Dayton, OH, under the ministry of Dr. D. W. McFarland and served faithfully in several ministries. His involvement included being a member of the junior choir, usher board, active Sunday School, and Baptist Training Union (BTU) member.
Displaying his adaptability and unwavering commitment to his religious journey, Pastor Ford transitioned his membership to the Harvest Grove MBC, Dayton, OH, under the leadership of Pastor Jimmy Terry. His service at Harvest Grove was characterized by his faithfulness, serving in various roles and being appointed to the Deacon’s ministry and ordained in March 1976.
Realizing that God had more excellent work for him, Pastor Ford accepted his calling into the ministry and preached his first sermon in March 1979. Following God's leadership, Revered Ford moved his family to Nashville, TN, where he attended and graduated from the American Baptist College of the American Baptist Seminary in December 1983.
During his tenure in Tennessee, Reverend Ford continued to be active in the work of the Lord. He was active in various ministries in the Nashville and Clarksville area. He served as associate minister at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church and the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Clarksville, TN.
Upon returning to Dayton, OH, Reverend Ford accepted the position as Pastor of Grace-Berea Baptist Church, where he served for eleven years. He later served for four years as Pastor of the Tried Stone Baptist Church, Middletown, OH. After four years of ministry at Tried Stone Baptist Church, Reverend Ford united with New Birth Baptist Church, Dayton, OH; after serving faithfully with New Birth Baptist Church, Reverend Ford reunited with Harvest Grove MBC, Dayton, OH in May 2011.
Reverend Ford accepted the position of interim pastor of Living Faith Baptist Church in July 2012 and the role of Pastor in September 2013. He served faithfully at Living Faith Baptist Church until May 2017, when he accepted the position of Pastor at Harvest Grove MBC in Dayton, OH.
Pastor Ford is the proud “girl dad” of three daughters (Tosha, AhSati, and Veronica), grandfather of three (Briana, Jada, and Ahmitt), and great-grandfather of two (Nova and Esther-Marie).
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REV. VALERIE BETTS
Associate Minister
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Rev. Valerie A. Betts was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, the beloved only daughter of Phyllis and Joseph Prince, and sister to three brothers—Joseph, Philip, and Kevin. Her faith journey began in her teen years at Bethesda Temple Church, where she first accepted Christ and began serving in music ministry as a choir member and pianist during Vacation Bible School.
Rev. Betts graduated from Jefferson Township High School and later attended college in Kansas, where she met her husband, Talmadge Betts. She is blessed with two daughters, Melody and Melissa, and five cherished grandchildren: Kayla, D’Jeniah, Charity, Gavyn, and Kylyn.
Rev. Betts holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Northeastern Illinois University (2007). Her heart for ministry and education led her to pursue extensive training through institutions including Moody Bible Institute, One Way Street, Group Publishing, Chaplaincy Training Institute, and the International Mission Board. She also holds a Certificate in Biblical Counseling, is a Certified Precept Bible Study Leader, and a trained Missions Team Leader.
Over the years, Rev. Betts has faithfully served in multiple churches, including Greater Garfield Church under the leadership of Rev. and Christ Bible Church of Chicago under the leadership of Dr. James Ford, Jr. Her roles have spanned Sunday School teacher, Director of Arts Ministries, Director of Missions, Minister of Music, and Church Prayer Coordinator. Her passion for worship and education has been evident in her leadership of the Puppet, Dance, Mime, and Banner Ministries.
In addition to local ministry, Rev. Betts has a heart for global missions, having participated in short-term mission trips to Ghana and Kenya over the past two decades. She has also served as a conference speaker for women’s retreats, worship workshops, and marriage seminars.
Since 2018, Rev. Betts has served faithfully at Harvest Grove Missionary Baptist Church under Rev. Ronald Ford. There, she continues to serve as Associate Minister under Pastor Reginald Frey.
Rev. Betts' life is marked by a deep love for God, a commitment to teaching His Word, and a desire to see others grow in their walk with Christ. Whether through music, missions, or ministry, she remains a servant at heart—devoted to the glory of God and the growth of His people.
REV. VENITA FREY
Associate Minister
Min. Venita Frey is a WOMAN CALLED BY GOD. She was born on May 11, 1966 in Dayton OH, and it pleased God, who separated her from her mother’s womb, and called her through His grace to become a MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, to reveal His Son in HER, that she might preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Min. Venita is blessed to have loving parents, 4 brothers, and 3 sisters.
By God’s grace she learned to praise God at an early age at the church where she attended and was baptized, by her grandfather, Pastor D.W. McFarland (Julia McFarland), pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Dayton, OH, where he pastored for 49 and half years. In 1980, Min. Venita Frey followed her family to Springfield, TN, after her parents became the Pastor and First lady of The First Baptist Church of Springfield, TN.
It was there she met the love of her life ( THE FLAME ON HER CANDLE, THE MIRACLE IN HER WHIP, THE APPLES IN HER DUMPLINGS, THE DENZEL IN HER MOVIE) PASTOR REGINALD R FREY.
After graduating from JO BYRNS High School in 1985, Venita and Reggie traveled the world as he went on to serve his country in the United States Army. They traveled the world together by living in Ft Hood Texas and in Nuremberg, Germany. Venita also traveled to Frankfurt and Mantz, Germany as well as Prague in Czechoslovakia.
After they left the military Min. Frey and family moved to Clarksville, TN and soon after, they relocated to Dayton, Ohio and united with the Good Samaritan Baptist Church.