Dr. Marquez Ball is an innovative leader for the 21st century. He is a Native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He received his license to preach in May of 2000 at Greater Zionfield Baptist Church in New Orleans. Dr. Ball served in the Air Force until 2005 at which time he was called to be the full-time youth and young adult minister at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Northwest, Washington D.C. under the leadership of Joseph N. Evans, Ph.D. Dr. Ball serviced at Mt. Carmel for over nine years. In November 2013, God gave him the vision to plant Uplift Church in Laurel, MD.
While Dr. Ball was active in doing the work of ministry he also wanted to learn theology. He received a BA in Biblical Studies from Maple Springs Baptist Bible College, a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity. He earned his Doctorate from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary focused on Black Church Leadership for the 21st Century. He is also a Foundations of Christian Leadership fellow at Duke Divinity School focused on bringing balanced innovation to traditional institutions.
Dr. Ball currently serves as the Director of Institutional Planning and Assessment and Professor of Black Church History. He is also the Washington, DC Bureau Religious and Education Affairs Liaison for the National Action Network, 1st Vice President of the Maryland State Convention of Progressive Baptist Churches, Vice President of Operations for the 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County and Vice President of the Sigma Alpha Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc..
Dr. Ball is committed to the call of God on his life, and excited as God continues to do great things in his life and ministry. He is married to Sabrena Ball and they have four children Ryan, Micah, Nathan and Christian.