Rev. Melvin D. BLACK, BS, MBA, Masters in Divinity

Founder & CFO – Board of Directors

Rev. Black brings a strong business background & social entrepreneurship to the mission field.  He spent over 30 years in business, rising through the ranks of Digital Equipment Corporation, which later became Hewlett Packard. Melvin was field controller of Texas, Colorado and New Mexico (annual sales 4 billion dollars), the largest division of the company at that time. Leaving the Fortune 500 world was a chance to recalibrate Melvin’s vision for his life, turning the page to a life of service and giving back.

After receiving his Masters in Divinity in 1999 with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling/Missiology, Melvin’s sole purpose became making a difference in the lives of others. This took various forms — a chaplain in intensive care at Emory Health Care System, group counselor at a long-term addiction center, and general pastoral counseling supporting families overcome marital issues.

Rev. Black finds his true calling on the ground working with severely challenged populations.  He has ran several after school tutorial programs for disadvantage children, set up food cooperatives and assisted with other feeding programs for the poor in the United States.  He also works in collaboration with Agape House to help ex offenders and men with addiction issues get their feet on the ground and make a contribution to society.

For the past four years, Melvin has combined his keen business acumen and social consciousness to support the building of a home for abandoned children in North Cotabato, Mindanao Philippines.  Currently he is working on two programs in the Philippines, (1) providing a full time nurse at an orphanage with medical supplies.  (2) Establishing a shelter for women with children that live on the streets.

Rev. Black brings this combination of results oriented business sense, social entrepreneurship, service and social consciousness in support of the area directors. His passion is to expand the possibilities for those most in need and provide a platform for self-reliance, independence as well as a sustainable skill set that fosters a way out of poverty and despair.

Melvin holds a BS in accounting and MBA are from Western New England University.  He also attained a Masters in Divinity is from Morehouse School of Religion – ITC.

Contact: melvin.black@thewayemi.org