Dora Bortey was born in Accra, Ghana, West Africa. Many of Dora’s family members still reside in Ghana. Dora began her early education in Ghana and went on to college to receive her BA (General) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa. Dora received a M.A. in Fine Arts and a M.A. in International Affairs from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, in 1981.

Following her call into ministry, Dora then went on to attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where she received her Masters of Divinity in 1994. In December of 2004, Dora received her DMin from George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Dora was ordained into the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ in 1994 at First Baptist Church of Annandale, Annandale, VA.

Dora is the founder and Missionary of the L.I.F.E. (Living for El-Shaddai Ministry), a non-profit organization registered in Ghana. She also established Salt and Light Ministry, a non-profit registered in Louisville, Kentucky to fund the L.I.F.E. Program in Ghana. Dora has served in several Churches in Ghana, such as Grace Baptist Church, Kumasi; First Baptist Church, Tema; She currently assists at Calvary Baptist Church, Shiashie. She was also a part-time lecturer at Christian Service College in Kumasi, Ghana and until 2006 an Adjunct Staff member at the Ghana Baptist Theological Seminary in Ghana. Dora conducts workshops and training seminars for church leaders of various denominations. She speaks and ministers frequently at various high schools around the country. In addition, Dora organizes and leads Mission trips within Ghana.