Dr. Lewis was born in West Baden, Indiana, and grew up in southern Illinois.  He comes from a family of Southern Baptist ministers.  He was baptized by his father, Harl Ray Lewis at Valier First Baptist Church, Valier, Illinois, in 1974.  He and his wife Cyndi, have three daughters, Caitlin, Hannah, and Lauren Ray.

Dr. Lewis is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.  He received his Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri where he is presently serving on the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Lewis states, "It is my mission as a child of God to promote individual personal relationships with Jesus Christ and to teach Christian principles to a lost and dying world.  I want to please God by sharing His love with joy and thanksgiving with those I come in contact.  It is my desire to lead the local church to fulfill its biblical purpose which is the great commission found in Matthew 28."