Wayne Bray has served churches of all sizes and contexts since 1997, but he has been the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Simpsonville / Upstate Church since 2015. FBS/UC is a multigenerational, multisite church that is committed to live preaching from a team of Teaching Pastors who rotate around the church’s various locations. With a membership of more than 7,600, Upstate Church averages more than 4,300 people in weekend attendance, meeting in 19 worship services, where 13 Teaching Pastors preach in 11 venues, at 8 geographical locations, with 3 unique styles of music, in 3 different languages. Outreach Magazine named Upstate Church the #9 Fastest Growing Church in America and #1 Fastest Growing Church in the Southern Baptist Convention in 2024.

Dr. Bray has authored several books, including Inside Out: Christian Hope in a World of Contradiction – Rainer Publishing (2019). In addition to serving as Lead Pastor at FBS/UC, Wayne enjoys teaching as Adjunct Faculty at Anderson University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and has extensive experience in denomination leadership, including President of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 2022 and President of the Preaching Conference of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board in 2011.

Wayne and his wife, Amy, have been married for 28 years and have earned 8 degrees collectively from 5 schools. They have 5 children between the ages of 14 and 26.