Rev. Dr. John Faison, Sr.
Nashville,TN
Summary
Experienced Senior Pastor bringing 13 years of successful spiritual leadership in a growing church, and 27 years of ministerial staff experience. Widely respected preaching and leadership voice across the country. Adept in bridging the gap between church and community through intentional relationship building. Highly experienced in strategic community impact and justice advocacy in urban ministry. Able to thrive in multicultural and multigenerational communities. Energetic leader and analytical problem-solver with articulate communication style. Proficient in leveraging technology and storytelling to promote growth. Skilled in managing concurrent objectives to promote efficiency and influence positive outcomes. Thrives in pressure-filled environments.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Pastor
Watson Grove Baptist Church
Nashville, TN
03.2012 - Current
- Grew church membership from 300 to 3000+ in 12 years.
- Supervises staff of 20+ to serve our congregation.
- Launched The Grove's second campus in Franklin, TN successfully by acquiring commercial real estate and renovating into a worship center.
- Responsible for church budget with $1.8 million in yearly expenditures.
- Led church through complete virtual transition and in-person worship reopening during the COVID pandemic through technological innovation, intentional community presence, strategic communication, and responsive pastoral care.
- Led the establishment of The Grove Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)3 organization that spearheads the church's community engagement in the following areas: providing child development and family support services; improving economic security and access to affordable housing; and reducing health and environmental risks to children.
Interim Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
New York Theological Seminary
New York, NY
06.2022 - 12.2022
- Supervised the DMin program, maintaining its size and structure in accordance with the seminary’s strategic plan and vision.
- Led the DMin program's re-emergence following the COVID-19 pandemic, while operating in a hybrid role.
- Fostered and guided the cultivation and quality control of each of the seminary’s DMin tracks, developing appropriate curriculum and recruiting faculty to develop and teach.
- Supported and encouraged faculty/mentors in their ongoing work with their own DMin cohorts.
- Assisted with student recruitment and consulted with Admissions and Enrollment teams concerning the application and admission process consistent with seminary enrollment policies and standards.
- Managed and coordinated the logistics of each DMin track.
- Recommended to the faculty, on behalf of the DMin Committee, the granting of the DMin degree as participants complete the program.
- Directed the DMin program staff.
- Developed and managed the budget of the D.Min. program.
- Improved the DMin program on an ongoing basis through curriculum design, qualified personnel, and interaction between DMin students and the broader NYTS community.
- Conducted DMin program assessment ensuring compliance with all regulatory agencies as appropriate.
- Chaired and convened the DMin committee of NYTS.
- Prepared the DMin program for its pending merger with United Theological Seminary.
Adjunct Professor
Payne Theological Seminary
Wilberforce, OH
01.2021 - 06.2024
- Designed and co-led a Doctor of Ministry cohort entitled "Growing the Local Church Through Prophetic Preaching and Contextualized Community Advocacy" (Cohort Co-leader: Dr. Jamal Bryant).
- Served as guest lecturer for DMin intensive on community impact, and helped coordinate guest lecturers for DMin intensive on social activism.
- Leveraged hybrid model of virtual and in-person opportunities to guide student excellence while fostering communal connection during COVID pandemic.
- Sourced appropriate course materials to support variety of student learning needs and styles and deliver content in relevant, distinctive ways.
- Developed custom course syllabus outlining standards, material, grading and progression for students.
- Graduated eight Bryant-Faison Leadership Scholars in 2024.
Pastor of Youth and Young Adults
Good Shepherd Baptist Church
Petersburg, VA
01.2008 - 02.2012
- Oversaw the discipleship, worship, and fellowship programming development and implementation for youth between grades Pre-K and 12.
- Increased youth engagement from 50 to over 400.
- Developed and staffed the college ministry outreach at two local universities.
- Served as primary preacher & teacher for youth/young adult ministries.
- Provided oversight and leadership to a team of paid and volunteer youth ministry staff of 13 personnel.
- Worked successfully with a diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our ministry and outreach efforts.
- Coordinated the development of budgets, calendars, policy, procedure and processes within youth/young adult ministries; function as the signatory authority on all related ministry expenditures.
- Became a go-to leadership voice for youth ministry in the Black Church across the state of VA and throughout the country.
Commissioned Officer
US Army
Varied Locations
04.2003 - 04.2011
- Served in the Field Artillery and Military Intelligence branches.
- Planned, managed, and supervised the training of 100+ Soldiers and Non-commissioned Officers at any given time.
- Led the management and maintenance of over a $500 million of equipment.
- Served stateside (Fort Sill, OK) and deployed overseas (Republic of Korea, Iraq).
- Consistently placed in the top 3% of peer group by senior evaluators.
- Received several awards, including the Bronze Star Medal.
- Honorably discharged at the rank of Captain in order to pursue seminary and full-time ministry.
Education
Doctor of Ministry -
Payne Theological Seminary
Wilberforce, OH05.2019
Master of Arts - Practical Theology
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA05.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA05.2003
Skills
- Inspirational Leadership
- Preaching and Teaching
- Community Relationship Building
- Vision Casting and Implementation
- Organizational Leadership
- Social Justice Innovation
- Interdenominational Networking
- Crisis Management
- Conflict Resolution
Affiliations
- Board Member, Belmont University
- Board Member, Leadership Nashville
- Co-Chair, Imagine Nashville
- President, John R. Faison Ministries, LLC
- President, The Grove Community Development Corporation
- Member, NAACP
- National Ambassador, The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative Initiative
- Life Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated
- Member, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Boule)
- Inducted into the Morehouse College MLK, Jr. International Chapel Board of Preachers - 2023
- Selected to be the Noonday Preacher for the Hampton University Ministers Conference - 2023
Publications
This is America: Capitol siege displayed the truth we're afraid to admit
Op-Ed published in The Tennessean (Jan. 28, 2021)
- https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2021/01/28/capitol-insurrection-displayed-americas-true-nature/4273643001/
A letter to white people: Black Americans are exhausted
Op-Ed published in The Tennessean (Jun. 24, 2020)
- https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2020/06/24/letter-white-people-black-americans-exhausted/3247279001/
NAACP: The Black Church and HIV: A Social Justice Imperative Initiative
Article published on the website (May 2018)
- https://theblackchurchandhiv.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Rev.-Faison_7-Steps-to-Addressing-HIV-AIDS-in-the-Black-Church.pdf
Media Interviews
John Delony Interview
- https://youtu.be/t4SFlMKg7-I
BioLogos Interview
- https://biologos.org/articles/fighting-health-stigmas-at-church-pastor-john-faison-sr
Vanderbloemen Interview
- https://www.vanderbloemen.com/blog/gentrification-impacts-black-church
Pass the Mic Podcast (Ep. 85)
- https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/CHRTDY5587901552?selected=CHRTDY2606021133
The Tennessean Feature Article
- https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2019/01/27/watson-grove-missionary-baptist-nashville-church-franklin-movie-theater/2597375002/
The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative (Youtube video)
- https://youtu.be/H74vfReKQFg
Imagine Nashville, a new effort by community leaders, wants to ensure growth benefits all
- https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson/2023/06/20/imagine-nashville-wants-your-help-to-guide-citys-growth/70329981007/
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Interim Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
New York Theological Seminary
06.2022 - 12.2022
Adjunct Professor
Payne Theological Seminary
01.2021 - 06.2024
Senior Pastor
Watson Grove Baptist Church
03.2012 - Current
Pastor of Youth and Young Adults
Good Shepherd Baptist Church
01.2008 - 02.2012
Commissioned Officer
US Army
04.2003 - 04.2011
Doctor of Ministry -
Payne Theological Seminary
Master of Arts - Practical Theology
Regent University
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Virginia State University
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