Jamal-Harrison Bryant ’94 Returns to Speak to 2005 Grads
The Reverend Jamal-Harrison Bryant ’94, senior pastor and founder of The Empowerment Temple, will give the keynote address for Morehouse College's 2005 Baccalaureate.
Bryant began the church in his home with 43 people. Four years later, the Baltimore, Md., church now has more than 6,000 members, making it the fastest growing church in the A.M.E. denomination.
Prior to his role as pastor, Bryant served as the director of the NAACP’s youth and college division where he was responsible for more than 650 youth councils and college chapters, representing more than 68,000 young people in the United States, Germany and Japan. During his tenure, he held the “Stop The Violence, Start The Love Crusade” and organized an HBCU speaking tour called “Youth At Risk.”
His contributions have been highlighted in numerous publications, including Emerge, Sister To Sister, USA Today, The Source and Ebony magazine, which named him one of America’s future leaders. Bryant has appeared on BET, CNN, C-Span, and Politically Incorrect. He also served as a panelist on the national town hall meeting, The State of Black America and The State of the Black Church, hosted by Tavis Smiley.
Bryant dropped out of high school after failing the 11th grade. However, he later obtained a GED certificate and went on to complete his education. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies from Morehouse College and earned a master of divinity degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C. Currently, Bryant is pursuing a Ph.D. in theology at Oxford University in Great Britain. He also is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Barber-Scotia College.
With a mission to “Empower the World Through the Word,” Bryant does a weekly broadcast titled “Power for Life” that is heard across the United States, the Caribbean, England and throughout the continent of Africa. In 2003, the church opened The Empowerment Academy, an elementary school for grades pre-K through 2nd, and The Empowerment Temple Family Life Center to serve the community. The church also has registered more voters than any other church in Baltimore City.
After three years of worshipping in several locations—including a banquet hall, a college campus and a high school auditorium—on February 15, 2004, the Empowerment temple congregation triumphantly marched into its new 2,000-seat sanctuary located in Baltimore City.
Bryant is married to Gizelle Bryant and a father to two daughters, Topaz and Grace.
