"For I am not Ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…(Romans 1:16)". These words originally spoken by the Apostle Paul, aptly fit the testimony of the Reverend Dr. Jeffrey A. Ingraham.
Having been born and reared on the island of Nassau, Bahamas, Rev. Dr. Ingraham fondly recalls the influence of the youth of his home church, the St. James Baptist Church, on his life resulting in his commitment to follow Christ. Since that time he has been active in the life of the Church. While still a youth he frequently served as a delegate of his Church at various national and international church conferences, as well as evangelistic crusades.
The loving nurture of the Church provided the impetus for Rev. Dr. Ingraham to respond to his call to the Christian Ministry. In the fall of 1974 he began studies at the Florida Memorial College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1978. Also in the fall of that year he enrolled as a student at the Yale University Divinity School, receiving the Master of Divinity degree in 1981. Rev. Dr. Ingraham also earned a Master of Arts degree from New York University, New York City in the fall of 1994 and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT., 2001. His doctoral dissertation is entitled "After The Jubilee: What Then? Charting A Course For A More Focused And Intentional Ministry In The Calvary Baptist Church Through The Establishment And Implementation Of A Mission Statement."
Rev. Dr. Ingraham has been blessed to have served with several churches in the state; Immanuel Baptist Church, New Haven, East End Tabernacle Baptist Church of Bridgeport, and Shiloh Baptist Church, Bridgeport, where he served as Minister of Outreach and Assistant Pastor.
He served as an instructor at the Connecticut School of Christian Religion, Bridgeport, CT. for over a decade, beginning in the mid '80s. At present he is the Director of the Seminary Extension Center (Norwalk), in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention.
On the first Sunday of January, 1989, Rev. Dr. Ingraham came to the Calvary Baptist Church in response to their call to serve as Interim Pastor. At the good will and pleasure of the Church, he was voted to the office of pastor in October of that same year and formally installed in February, 1990.
Rev. Dr. Ingraham is active in the life of the Norwalk Community. He has served on a number of boards and commissions. Presently he is a Commissioner of the Norwalk Housing Authority. He has served as President of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship of Norwalk and Vicinity, President of the Norwalk Clergy Association and Moderator of the Fairfield Association of the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut. Nationally he has served his denomination, the American Baptist Churches USA, as a Board member and a Board Manager of the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board. He is a contributor to the publication A New Thing: Reflections on Transformation and Change (National Ministries, ABCUSA; 2004).
Currently he is the First Vice-President of the Norwalk Branch of the NAACP. Fraternally, Rev. Dr. Ingraham is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Professionally he has worked in the housing management industry as an Accredited Residential Manager, conferred by the Institute of Real Estate Management.
Dr. Ingraham's community service has been recognized by a number of local organizations. These include the 2004 LEADERSHIP Award presented by the Norwalk Branch of the NAACP; the 2006 George Washington Carver Youth Development Program Leadership award; and, the N.E.O.N. Community Action Award, 2006
For recreation he enjoys sports, traveling and reading. As part of his ministry beyond his congregation, he enjoys writing newspaper articles extolling the virtues of Christianity.
On August 13, 1988, Rev. Dr. Ingraham was joined in holy matrimony to the former Cynthia Ruth Grant. From this union was born two daughters, Kristan Joi, on November 9, 1989 and Bethany Faith, on April 11, 1991.