Jared Sawyer Jr
| Jared Sawyer Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Jared Andre' Sawyer Jr. |
| Born |
September 28, 1997 Decatur, Georgia |
| American | United States |
| Occupation | Televangelist, pastor, author |
| Website |
jaredsawyerjr |
| Below text | |
Jared Andre' Sawyer Jr. (born September 28, 1997) is a prominent American Baptist televangelist, author, media personality and gospel singer. Sawyer became the youngest to attain pastorate leadership in the United States in the Southern Baptist denomination. Sawyer has written two Amazon Bestselling books with over 50,000 copies sold. His sermons and podcasts broadcasts to over 3 million households weekly. Other aspects of Sawyer's ministry include an annual revival called "An Evening Of Inspiration" that draws more than 10,000 people and an annual youth conference called "The I AM EMPOWERED Next Generation Conference" that garner over 15,000 teens and young adults worldwide.
Early life
Sawyer is one of two children, from the marriage of Jared Sawyer Sr. and Sabrina Sawyer. He grew up in Decatur, Georgia, attending Center Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Greenforest Christian Academic Center (a private school) in Decatur, Georgia.
Career
In 2004, Sawyer became a licensed minister through the Baptist church.
In 2005, Sawyer debuted as a gospel artist in his appearance in The Gospel, a movie produced by Sony Pictures and Rainforest Films.
In 2008, Sawyer joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, commonly known as the NAACP, and the National Action Network to advocate for the election of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States.
In 2009, Sawyer gave the keynote address at Howard University's Paul Anthony Dillard Scholarship Forum.
In 2010, Jared Sawyer Jr. Ministries was established as a non-profit organization that produced televised sermons and conferences. From 2011-2012, he co-hosted the The Bobby Hurd Show on WATC-57 and The Word Network airing to millions worldwide.
In 2012, Sawyer received the Trailblazer Leadership Award from Beulah Heights University. He also launched the "I AM EMPOWERED Youth Initiative" series of events that garner over 15,000 children and teens around the United States annually.
In 2013, Sawyer released his first book which spiked to the top 40 percent of Amazon sales, I BELONG TO GOD: Staying On The Christian Path to Success.
Criticism
Sawyer's ministry is often criticized for his pursuit of worldwide evangelism in response to his pious claim of "being called by God in a dream" at age 5.
On January 14, 2014, after a viral coverage of Sawyer's ordination to pastor by WSB-TV, an affiliate of ABC, debate sparked to argue over his lack of formal theological training. During an exclusive interview with The Christian Post, Sawyer announced his stand on evangelizing without yet attending school.[1]
Writings
- I BELONG TO GOD: Staying On The Christian Path to Success (2013); Atlanta: Self Published
- 911: The Spiritual Emergency System (2015); Atlanta: Jared Sawyer Jr. Enterprises
Personal life
Sawyer accounts most of his introduction to ministry opportunities to his mother Sabrina Sawyer and father Jared Sawyer Sr. Sawyer has one sibling: Emani Sawyer.
References
- ↑ Menzie, Nicola (January 14, 2014). "Ordination of Atlanta Teen Called to Preach at Age 5 Sparks Debate About 'Needing a Degree to Preach God's Word'". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 22, 2015.