Dr. Grant is from Cross Hill, SC, where he grew up as the youngest of ten children. At just 19, he was called to be pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, his home church in Cross Hill. He served as pastor of Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C. from 1980-1989, and then went on to pastor Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Asheville since 1989. He serves and has served on the board of directors of many civic and community-based organizations.
Dr. Grant holds a BA degree from Benedict College in Columbia, SC; a Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester/Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary in Rochester, New York; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Atlanta Theological Association through Erskine Theological Seminary.
Today, Mount Zion is implementing an economic development plan called the “6 & 4 Plan,” as well as a church-wide discipleship training ministry called "Operation Multiplication.” Both of these plans involve expanding and improving the church’s current facilities and ministries, as well as purchasing new facilities and property near the church. Mount Zion is located in an officially designated blighted and redevelopment area of Asheville, and Grant believes that through these expansion plans, the church will be able to more effectively reach people in the area for Christ.