About Our Pastor

Dr. R. L. Yates is the fifth of nine children given by God to Mother Maggie B. Yates, and the late Deacon Robert L. Yates. Pastor Yates accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a very early age and has since made his lifestyle one of trusting God to lead as he faithfully follows.

Upon graduation from high school in Mobile, Alabama, Pastor Yates went on to further pursue his education, earning undergraduate and post-graduate degrees and certifications. In the process, he was blessed to meet and marry his very special gift from God, First Lady Dr. Ruby L. Yates. God blessed their union with four preaching sons and a daughter-in-law.

For over thirty years, the Lord has faithfully put a relevant word in the mouth of His preacher. Under the watch of Pastor Yates, the Lord has called countless souls into the kingdom, numerous believers into higher levels of victory and power, and many pastors and ministers into deeper levels of service and commitment.

As the organizing pastor of Embrace Ministries, Dr. Yates takes the plan and purpose of God to encourage the strong, strengthen the weak, and bring the lost to Jesus very seriously. Empowered by the Holy Spirit and partnered in ministry with his beautiful wife, Dr. Ruby L. Yates, Pastor Yates is excited about what God has envisioned and enthusiastically anticipates seeing it come to fruition.

About Our First Lady

Dr. Ruby L. Yates is a nationally sought-after Bible teacher, writer, speaker, and author. She is also the dynamic first lady of the Embrace Ministries Outreach Center and the editor of the Touching Lives Newsletter and the Touching Lives Magazine. Equipped with a vision from God to encourage the strong, strengthen the weak, and bring the lost to Jesus, Dr. Yates is about her Father’s business, redeeming the time and declaring a message of freedom and deliverance to all who will receive it. The daughter of Pastor Mrs. William A. Bunton Jr. of the Antioch Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York, Dr. Yates was reared in the Lord and trained from an early age to serve Him in fullness. She was blessed to meet and partner with the man of her dreams, Dr. R. L. Yates, and has for the past thirty plus years served with him in ministry as the Lord directed. In addition to earning dual doctoral degrees in ministry and religious studies, Drs. R. L. and Ruby Yates have authored several books, workbooks, and teaching materials to bless the body of Christ.