Our Leadership

Three generations of faith, healing, teaching, and service in the Historic Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta.

Bishop Bobby Lee Graham Jr., Pastor of National Divine Spiritual Church

Bishop & Pastor

Sweet Auburn, Atlanta

Meet Our Pastor

Bishop Bobby Lee Graham Jr.

Senior Pastor · Chaplain · Spiritual Teacher · Community Leader

Bishop Bobby Lee Graham Jr. was born on June 11, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, and stands today as the third-generation pastor of National Divine Spiritual Church — a congregation founded in 1944 by his grandparents, Bishop Hiram O'Neal and Evangelist Pauline O'Neal. The son of Reverend Bobby Lee Graham Sr. and Nanella Graham, he was raised in the Historic Sweet Auburn District and carries a family legacy of faith, healing, and service that has shaped Atlanta for more than eighty years.

His preparation matches his calling. Bishop Graham holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary. This blend of theological training and psychological insight allows him to meet people where they are — addressing both the spiritual and human dimensions of growth.

Beyond the pulpit, Bishop Graham has served for over a decade as President of the Fourth Ward Sweet Auburn Neighborhood District, leading initiatives in community revitalization, public safety, affordable housing, neighborhood beautification, senior engagement, and business development. He also serves with the Atlanta Municipal Court Restorative Justice Program, walking alongside at-risk youth through rehabilitation, accountability, and community-based restoration.

Whether preaching from the historic sanctuary on Jackson Street, teaching a spiritual development class, or advocating for neighbors in city hall, Bishop Graham leads with the same conviction: faith must be lived, love must be shown, and a church must serve its community. His ministry is devoted to education, healing, spiritual leadership, and the daily work of community service.

Education

UT & Columbia Seminary

Community Leadership

Sweet Auburn District President

Spiritual Leadership

Third-Generation Pastor

Restorative Justice

Atlanta Municipal Court Program

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."

— Colossians 3:23 (KJV)

Schedule a Visit

Meet Our Overseer

Overseer Nanella O'Neal Graham

Daughter of the Founders • Overseer • Certified Medium • Prophetic Minister • Healer • Community Servant

Role

Overseer of National Divine Spiritual Church

Became Overseer

2010

Founded Ministry

Divine Helping Hands Ministry · 2005

Professional Background

Information Technology

Overseer Nanella O'Neal Graham has devoted her life to faith, family, ministry, and service. As the daughter of the founders of National Divine Spiritual Church, Bishop Hiram O'Neal and Evangelist Pauline O'Neal, she was raised within the church and describes herself as a true product of the ministry.

Her life at National Divine began in childhood, and over the years she has served the church in many capacities. Before becoming Overseer, she served as a certified medium, sharing prophetic insight and participating in the church's healing ministry. She has also taught Sunday School, spiritual development, and other faith-based programs throughout her years of service.

In 2010, Nanella became Overseer of National Divine Spiritual Church. In this role, she assists the pastor, helps oversee the spiritual and administrative operations of the church, supports its ministries, and works to ensure that the vision and traditions established by its founders continue into future generations.

“Faith without works is dead.”
— A guiding truth from her father's legacy

A Legacy of Faith

From her father, Bishop Hiram O'Neal, Nanella learned the importance of faith accompanied by action. His life demonstrated to her that founding and sustaining a ministry required not only belief, but the willingness to work faithfully toward the vision God had given him.

From her mother, Evangelist Pauline O'Neal, she learned the importance of carrying a gentle, kind, and compassionate spirit throughout ministry.

Together, these lessons shaped Nanella's approach to leadership—combining faith, service, compassion, perseverance, and responsibility.

Supporting a Ministry of Service

During the pastorate of her husband, Rev. Bobby Lee Graham Sr., Nanella remained a constant source of encouragement and support.

Together, they helped expand the church's outreach beyond the sanctuary. Rev. Graham developed ministries focused on helping individuals locate employment, housing, and other resources, while Nanella supported his vision and helped identify ways the church could serve those who were less fortunate.

Her father, Bishop Hiram O'Neal, also organized travel and ministry opportunities throughout the United States and abroad, giving members opportunities for fellowship, spiritual education, cultural exposure, and ministry beyond their home community.

Divine Helping Hands

In 2005, Nanella founded the Divine Helping Hands Ministry, continuing National Divine's longstanding commitment to helping people in need.

The ministry reflects her belief that faith must be demonstrated through service. Through outreach, food assistance, compassion, and community support, Divine Helping Hands has become an important expression of the church's mission to care for its neighbors.

Faith, Community & Leadership

Nanella's service extends beyond National Divine Spiritual Church.

Professionally, she built a career in information technology before retiring. She has also remained active in the Atlanta community. Her life was shaped during a transformative period in American history. Growing up during segregation and the Civil Rights era, Nanella experienced firsthand the challenges faced by African American families traveling throughout the South. Her father organized travel opportunities for Black families during a period when safe travel could not always be taken for granted.

Those experiences contributed to her lifelong appreciation for community, opportunity, faith, and service.

Continuing the Legacy

Today, Overseer Graham continues to serve alongside Bishop Bobby Lee Graham Jr., helping guide National Divine Spiritual Church into its next generation.

Among the accomplishments she values most is the church's historic travel ministry, which allowed members to experience communities throughout the United States and beyond while expanding their understanding of ministry and the world around them.

She also continues one of the spiritual traditions that has been part of her life for decades: sharing prophetic words of encouragement and spiritual guidance with those who are in need.

For Overseer Graham, National Divine Spiritual Church is more than the place where she serves—it is the spiritual home in which she was raised, the ministry built by her parents, the church she helped sustain with her husband, and the legacy she continues to protect for generations to come.

“Faith must be accompanied by work, and ministry should always be carried out with a gentle and kind spirit.”