Connected on Purpose- Part 2
August 9, 2010 by Admin
Filed under Gospel Today Features
By Teresa Hairston
As Gospel Today caught up with Pastor Brady, she was in the midst of moving from Durham, NC to Allen, TX, which was no small feat. “I’m not only a Pastor, I’m a wife, mother and a grandmother!†Even so, she graciously paused to speak about this new step of purpose.
“Bishop Jakes and I go back many, many years,†Pastor Brady confirmed. “We’ve probably been part of his ministry for about 19 years, since he was in West Virginia. Then, we moved to Dallas with him when he first came and stayed about two years, then went back to Durham (NC) about 11 years ago, and started The River. He’s been my father in the Gospel and I’ve stayed connected with him.â€
“Several months ago,†explained Pastor Brady, “Bishop Jakes called me and said, “Sheryl, I want you to pray about coming home; I’d like to launch a Potter’s House North in the Northern Dallas Community (The Allen, TX location is about a 45-minute drive from the mother church in Dallas).â€
“So I prayed about it; and sometimes you pray and wait for all kinds of signs, but all I could hear was Bishop Jakes’ voice—and the Lord got behind those decisions. Now we’re here (services are currently being held at the Allen Event Center).â€
Moving hasn’t been easy. Bishop and Pastor Brady oversee 103 pastors and have been faithful to their commitment as founders and leaders of The River Church in Durham, NC.
When asked, “How does it feel to have birthed a ministry and now be moving on?†Pastor Brady took a deep breath. “Nobody knows the conversations that I’ve had with God about this,†she said. “One thing I do know is that The River is a healthy church. I feel like Moses’ mother who had to put the baby she birthed into a basket and place it in a river and trust that God’s plan would prevail.†“The basket entailed a lot. She didn’t just throw the baby in the river. She made sure he was covered and protected and she watched him from a distance; and God faithfully brought that baby back to nurse at her breast. I know that The River is in good hands, but at the end of the day, I’m watching it from afar. You never disconnect from what you birth. I will never be disconnected from The River.†Pastor Brady confirmed that Bishop Eric McDaniels (The Lord’s Church, Bronx, NY) would be coming in to serve as pastor at The River. “I believe that there are things that I wasn’t able to accomplish at The River that Bishop McDaniels will come in and be able to accomplish. That’s the “exceeding greatness†of God. He never takes away, He always adds. So, I’m looking forward to it being bigger and better than it’s ever been, and I will give everything I can to see that that happens.â€
The purposeful connections between Bishop Jakes and the pastors who are under his leadership have already proved significant. Whereas, most churches or ministries start with a handful of members and take years to grow, Bishop Jakes is changing that paradigm. Pastor Brady confirmed that within its first month, Potter’s House-North was al- ready seeing approximately 2500 people per weekend. She acknowledged Bishop Jakes as the reason.
“So many times in our ministries, we have to start from ground zero with no mentoring,†explains Bishop Jakes. “I think a better way of doing things is to help a person get their footing and guide them through the initial stages of 21st century leadership— which requires a lot more than it did 20 years ago— in terms of what it requires to get a building, staff up for ministry, and be able to launch a ministry at a level where it can immediately become functional to a community rather than waiting for years.
“Two of the pastors are much younger than me, and Pastor Brady is slightly younger than me. The emphasis is on new voices that strongly reflect our values and ideals—to help them grow and develop, and not to have to start from ground zero.
“Raising up new voices and young men and women is really the way that the church perpetuates itself. We can’t allow our vision to die with our generation. To launch these new voices from our platform is a part of why God gave us the platform in the first place—to be able to empower other people.
“Several years ago, I wrote a book titled, “Reposition Yourself.†Every living thing, whether it’s a marriage, a person, an organization or a church has to reposition itself in order to remain functional. As we grow older and our constituencies grow older, we should all be concerned about empowering the next generation.†Bishop Jakes’ insight and wisdom could prove pivotal for many young ministers and aspiring ministry leaders. How- ever, he underlines the word “relationship†as the key to healthy growth.
“My philosophy is that the Potter’s House brand and logo has to perpetuate itself through genuine relationships. So, our focus is not on developing more churches, its on developing strong, trustworthy relationships.
Pastor Brady is an Awesome Woman of God and she is definitely A Chosen Vessel. To God Be The Glory!!! To The Potter’s House and to Bishop Jakes
We are praying for all the Churches planted by the Lord that his name will be glorified and peoples lives will be changed and they will truly be saved and delivered.
Pastor: Brady,
What God has 4 you is 4 you, you stay hooked-up and connected to the main power source; and you know who that is. Whom God calls He qualitifies, remember many are called but few are chosen. In your case you are called and chosen by the Lord. God has His hands all over you and you are; completely covered in the PRECIOUS blood of JESUS!!! Continue 2 do what you do in jesus Name & watch God open doors that no man can close;as well as close doors that no man can open. Remember we are in a FIXED fight, we are morn than conquers, we triump in the Lord. God only gives us what we can handel & in/with all thinhs are POSSIBLE; I, know you belive that already. Keep pressing, keep trusting, keep beliving most of keep the FAITH, and with God you will come out a WINNER every time; I, PROMISE. God is with you as well as in you so just Love Him even the more, draw closer to Him even the more & keep praying even the more. In Christ you have all you need you are all wraped up and tangeled up in El-shaddi, in other words you are fully loaded with what God has 4 you 2 do 4 Him For His GLORY & HONOR, Yes you are a part of the remnant of The most high God!!!!! El-ELYON as well as El-ROI has your back, now and 4 ever 4 the rest of your PRECIOUS LIFE….. God CARES STAY ENCOURAGED the BEST is still YET 2 come & even GREATER things; that The LORD has in store 4 you. Keep your all on the Alter. What every you go through Keep giving God what’s due un2 Him. God has something special just 4 u even though the way, may seem more than u can bear; eyes have not seen, ears have not heard what the Lord has in store just 4 you. The more you know HIM, the more you want 2 know HIM.
By the way GOD IS HEALING EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!
My Love & Prayer are with you always………………….
My Love & Prayer are with you always!!!!!!!!
GOD BLESS YOU PASTOR BRADY…YOU HAVE BEEN A FAVORITE OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS BECAUSE I HAVVE BEEN DRAWN TO YOUR ANOINTING. YOU ARE AN AWESOME WOMAN OF GOD AND IT’S OBVIOUS WHEN YOU MINISTER THAT YOUR “FOCUS” IS ON FATHER GOD & WHAT HE WANTS TO RELAY TO HIS PEOPLE.
I’M SURE DURHAM WILL MISS YOU, BUT WE MUST BE OBEDIENT TO HIS CALL AND WE MUST BE WILLING TO GO WHERE HE SENDS US.
BISHOP JAKES IS ALSO AN ANOINTED MAN OF GOD. WE COME FROM THE SAME HOME TOWN. I MET HIM YEARS AGO AT A SMALL CHURCH WHERE I PRESENTLY RESIDE HERE IN AUGUSTA, GA. WE CONVERERSED ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA, THIS WAS BEFORE GOD RAISED HIM UP IN SUCH AN AWESOME WAY. I TOLD HIM THEN THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE MIGHTILY USED OF THE LORD AND THAT GOD WAS GOING TO BLESS HIM BEYOND WHAT HE EVEN KNEW. HE’S ALWAYS BEEN “HIGHLY ANOINTED” AND HAS A COMPASSIONATE HEART JUST LIKE JESUS. YOU ARE UNDER A GREAT & GODLY LEADER PASTOR BRADY AND I KNOW THAT “ALL IS WELL” AS GOD FAVORS YOU & BISHOP JAKES TO CONTINUE DOING “KINGDOM BUSINESS” WHEREVER HE MAY DIRECT YOU TO GO OR BE. MY THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, & LOVE ARE WITH YOU IN ALL THAT GOD ASSIGNS YOU TO DO!
Blessings to Mr. and Mrs. Brady. I watched her at the megafest conference on and Bishop T.D. Jakes programs, and I think her ministry is tops! She is clearly anointed of God almighty and chosen!! When she spoke at Bishop Jakes church the one sunday I saw it on t.v. it was powerful. God bless you Sister and Brother Jakes and it’s a loss for The River Church, but Allen, Texas will have their socks blessed off seriously. All the best in the future and keep up the good work, you’re both solid people.
Congratulations Pastor Sheryl and Joby Brady! Pastor Sheryl Brady is one vessel that I can listen to day and night. I live in Jacksonville, Fl. and every chance I get I am listening to what Word the Lord has put in her mouth. I can’t tell you how much this woman of God has blessed my life. I pray for your continued success.
Bishop and Pastor Brady FIRED Bishop Eric McDaniel today from being the pastor of the River church after Bishop McDaniel left his church in New York to move to NC to pastor the River Church while pastor and Bishop Brady went to Texas to pastor a Bishop TD Jakes Potters House church. Bishop Eric McDaniel gave up everything to move to NC and now has nothing…..
to reply to Ronald Sawyer. what the devil meant for evil God turned it around for the Good Bishop and Co Pastor mcdaniel are doing well and still going on in God right in the Durham area still. God has blessed and provided and they to have another Thriving and blessed ministry and now Bishop has Three very thriving churches . so God knew what he was doing.