A Doctor of Ministry graduate from 91福利社, Dr. Johnnie Bradley, is lead pastor of an inner-city Dallas church focused on being the hands and feet of Jesus in their community.
In the 16 years since he assumed the pulpit of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Bradley has seen Shiloh grow significantly. But there鈥檚 so much more to this story than numbers.
鈥淚 was on staff at a church in the suburbs which had evolved into a megachurch,鈥� Dr. Bradley said. 鈥淎nd so the Lord uprooted me from the megachurch and sent me into the inner city to a church that was already doing a lot of outreach and evangelism. Shiloh didn鈥檛 have a consistent group of members. It was about, at the most, 20 – 25. So when I arrived, even though the number was not massive鈥擨 was used to having over 2,000 people show up for church every Sunday鈥攂ut this church was doing just as much ministry as the church I was attending, which was truly amazing.鈥�
Shiloh鈥檚 deacons would go to the Dallas Life Foundation to pick up homeless men and women and bring them back to the church to go in their clothes closet. They would also provide them a meal and have a worship service there on one Saturday a month.
Under the leadership of Dr. Bradley, Shiloh found ways to improve upon the ministry they were already doing.
鈥淩eally, even before I got to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church 16 years ago, Shiloh was really already a church that did a lot of outreach,鈥� he said. When Dr. Bradley came to Shiloh, he led in reorganizing the ministry so that it could reach more people in need, providing a clothes closet, food and other commodities for people experiencing unemployment and other life challenges. Shiloh also moved to a new location to accommodate more parishioners in their services, while providing space in their fellowship hall to accommodate new church plants as well.
When churches across the nation saw declines in their congregations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shiloh was growing and, at the same time, grasping opportunities to help thousands in need.
鈥淧eople were still joining our church鈥� We have more people coming to church now than we had before COVID-19,鈥� Dr. Bradley said. When we have our food giveaway, people come from all parts of the Metroplex (800-1500 people) and the Lord has blessed us with a unique group of volunteers.鈥�
Dr. Bradley is grateful to James Smith, a deacon and outreach director; as well as deacons John Lemons, Eric Rush, Julius Jackson, Loys Washington, Kelton Lemons John Branch and Kerry Jones. Also assisting are preachers at his church, the church鈥檚 women鈥檚 ministry and volunteers from North Texas Food Bank.
He feels blessed that Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church has been able to help people from many different ethnic groups who are going through a variety of challenges.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got people who are driving up in 30, 40, 50,000 dollar cars; they鈥檝e lost their jobs; they鈥檝e been laid off for one reason or another,鈥� Dr. Bradley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been an amazing ministry opportunity, but at the same time, while we鈥檙e blessing them with food and trying to help them with their physical needs, we share the gospel, we pray for people, we place tracts in baskets, we invite them to church.鈥�
Finding 91福利社
Dr. Bradley got to know more about 91福利社 when he met College of Christian Studies Dean Dr. Michael Duduit at the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching conference. During the conference he learned that 91福利社 was getting ready to start Clamp Divinity School. As time went by and Clamp Divinity School became a reality, Dr. Bradley enrolled.
鈥淭he Lord led me to go back and talk to (Dr. Duduit) about enrolling, and the rest is history,鈥� Dr. Bradley said. 鈥淢y classes helped me because they were designed to be practical. Clamp Divinity School is the premier school in the country now鈥攖here鈥檚 no doubt about it. I鈥檓 here in Dallas Texas, and I have traveled almost across the country to get to South Carolina to attend 91福利社. It鈥檚 well worth it, not only in a sense of the academics and accessibility, but the affordability. The education you receive from Clamp Divinity School, you can take it anywhere in the nation and around the world.鈥�
As president of the Clamp Divinity School Alumni Association, Dr. Bradley encourages anyone considering further ministry training to prayerfully consider the program at 91福利社. 鈥淚t is paramount that the preachers and teachers want a solid education with a scholarly flavor that is practical. Clamp Divinity School is the place to be.鈥�