The Man, The Ministry, The Maestro. Bishop Ralph “Donnie” Graves he received his Bachelor of Science in Organ & Sacred Music from the Winston-Salem State University. Bishop Graves was influenced by his life-long mentor; Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. to pursue a more intense study of God’s word. He received the Master of Divinity from the Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, North Carolina, May, 2000 and the Doctor of Ministry from the Columbia Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia, May 2004.

Bishop Graves began his musical career at the young age of 4. The entire Cohen family in which he was reared is gifted in music ministry. His aunts and uncles had a strong influence on his musical talent and growth. This talent was greatly enhanced by the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark who became his mentor from the age of 12 until her demise. He served from age 15 as the Minister of Music for both of the churches under the leadership of his grandmother, Gospel Light and St. Mariah United Holy Churches. He was appointed Minister of Music for the Southern District Convocation by the late Bishop James A. Forbes, Sr. in 1974. During his tenure in the Southern District, he recorded one of his most popular hits, “I’m Saved” with the Southern District Mass Choir, Goldsboro, NC. Bishop Graves has written such musical hits as: “Count Your Blessings”, “When All God’s Children Get Together” (recorded by Keith Pringle), “Deliverance Will Surely Come”, “Talk ToGod”, and many more. Bishop Graves Released a solo organ project, featuring his daughters on one song as well as the first Gospel Organ Duo with Pastor Gerald Sylver and himself on two Hammond Organs played simultaneously. He has also released another double CD recording project: Bishop Ralph “Donnie” Graves and the RDG Restoration Ensemble, “Back With A Vengeance”.

Bishop Graves began his preaching ministry November 1972 at age 18. He was ordained in the United Holy Church of America in 1976 at the age of 22. Upon accepting a teaching appointment in Fayetteville, NC, he organized the Deliverance Temple of Truth Holy Church, September 4, 1978. As other churches were added to the organization, he was consecrated presiding bishop, March 2, 1980 by the late Bishop Sylvester Webb and the late Bishop William Caldwell. He was consecrated Chief Apostle of Deliverance Temple of Truth Holy Churches, Inc., 1992. He founded the Refreshing Springs Restoration Center, Rocky Mount, NC, in December 1981, he founded the Greater Metropolitan Restoration Center “The Met”, Greensboro, NC in January 1994. He founded The Gathering Place, Raleigh, NC May 2012. Because of his broad scope of the body of Christ, his ecumenicity led him to change the name from Deliverance Temple of Truth Holy Church to Deliverance Temple Restoration Ministries, Inc. His ministry carried him beyond the borders of the United States into International Ministries.

Bishop Graves was a former Advisory Board member of the Joint College of Pentecostal Bishops. He was sent to the Parliament of England as a Representative in October 2009. He was a member of the American Guild of Organist.

He is the author of 4 books: Inspiration Nuggets, The Paths of Righteousness, The Third Variable and The Broken Pulpit.

With all the accomplishments and accolades, he remained a humble servant, a family man and lover of God’s people. As he would often say and now it is manifested, “Thank God For the Victory” !