Roland Andrews was born in Miami, Florida to Dorothy and Arthur Andrews. He became a Christian in 1955 at the Hialeah Church of Christ. After graduating from Miami Technical High School he served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He attended Miami-Dade Junior College for two years and then transferred to Western Carolina University where he majored in physical education and biology. Roland played football at W.C.U for two years. He received his B.S. degree from Western Carolina.
While at Western Carolina Roland met his wife Wanda. They were married in 1966 after graduation. They lived one year in Shelby where Wanda became a Christian. In 1967 they moved to Greensboro and worked in Guilford County Schools. Roland worked as a teacher, coach in Guilford County. They moved in 1974 to Robbins North Carolina. While in Robbins their son David Ryan was born. Roland taught and coached at North Moore High School until 1977 when they moved back to Greensboro. Back in Guilford County Roland worked as a teacher, then assistant principal and then principal of Brightwood Elementary school. Roland received his Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1991. He retired from Guilford County Schools in 1995.
Roland and Wanda were part of the group that left Friendly Avenue Church of Christ to form the Northwest Church of Christ.