The Role of the Black Church in Healthcare Conference
Friday, June 18, 2021
8:00am - 12:30pm
Keynote:
Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant
Visionary. Civil rights activist. Community organizer. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant combines sound Biblical teaching, business acumen and political insight to propel the Body of Christ to action and greater levels of faith. Since his youth, Dr. Bryant has prevailed against the odds - rising from G.E.D. to Ph.D. Prior to pastoring, he served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP for six years, where he helped to mobilize over 70,000 youth worldwide in non-violent campaigns.
Dr. Bryant, a third-generation minister, was the founding pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland, acclaimed as the fastest-growing African Methodist Episcopal Church in the denomination’s 200-year history.
With an undeniable gift to bring generations from the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Bryant incites change in the faith community. His ability to reach across social, economic and political barriers has helped people to not only experience the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ, but to activate success in their everyday lives. His ministry became an incubator for entrepreneurs, homeowners, and the like. Additionally, programs under his guidance have aimed to spread the Gospel, develop strong leaders, empower the economically disadvantaged, and challenge social injustices.
In December 2018, Dr. Bryant was appointed the Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. His leadership efforts have already begun to strengthen the multi-generational bond among members, expand community outreach, cultivate families and expand the church’s cultural significance.
Meet our Speakers:
Medical Director:
Daniel J. Frayne, MD
Dr. Daniel Frayne is the President of Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). He joined the MAHEC Department of Family Medicine in 2006 and held several leadership positions including Clinical Director, Medical Director, and Assistant Residency Director. He attended Boston University and the University of California at Irvine College of Medicine, and completed a Family Medicine Residency at Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, PA. He then spent four years as a primary care physician in Linville, North Carolina.
Dr. Frayne is an Associate Professor of Family medicine with UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
Odell Dickerson, Jr.
Odell Dickerson, Jr. is the leadership executive and principal of OdellExec Enterprises. He is one of the country’s most sought after consultants and keynote speakers in leadership, faith-based management and motivation. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for the New Psalmist Baptist Church, a 7,000 member congregation in Baltimore, MD under the leadership of Bishop Walter S. Thomas, Sr.
Odell is responsible for interpreting, executing, and leading the ongoing transformation of New Psalmist’s vision by using the most cutting-edge methods and resources available. During his tenure at New Psalmist, he has been an undeniable leader in church administration, project management and lay-leadership management.
Bishop A. Kayce Lewis
Bishop A. Kayce Lewis is the Senior Pastor of River of Life International, Asheville, North Carolina. She was ordained Elder at Faith Worship Center International where she also served as Chief Administrative Officer and Endowed with Power Ministerial Fellowship under the grace and leadership of the late Dr. Ann L. Hardman.
Bishop Kayce is the owner of KCL Consulting, LLC, Kustom Printing Services and Kustom Too where she services the needs for both corporate community as well as the Christian community. She received her Doctorate of Philosophy in Christian Counseling from Kingdom Truth University, Jacksonville, Florida.
Superintendent Ronald D. Gates, Sr.
Supt. Ronald D. Gates, Sr. is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was ordained as an elder in the Church of God in Christ in 2003 and has been in ministry for over 20 years. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Religious Education from Calvary Theological Seminary and is a 2003 honor graduate of the Greater North Carolina Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Academy. He currently serves as 2nd Administrative Assistant in the NC 3rd Jurisdiction of COGIC and Superintendent of the Asheville/Metro Districts under the leadership of Bishop Patrick L. Wooden, Sr.
Supt. Gates is a certified Pastoral Counselor with the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counselors, a Certified Recovery Coach, and has completed certification as a North Carolina Peer Support Specialist. Along with his wife, he is the co-owner of the Gateway Group of Asheville, a nonprofit organization providing coaching, consulting and training on parenting and healthy family working closely with the Department of Social Services, the Sheriff’s Department, the court system, and other agencies to strengthen and build healthy families. Since 2019, he has served as chaplain to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department.
Pastor Joseph T. Hackett
Joseph T. Hackett is a social scientist. He has been an ordained Elder for 22 years, and pastoring for 16 years. The Founder of Leviticus International Network leading a network of 35 pastors and churches as well as founder of Leviticus Community Education Center in Nairobi, Kenya.
He is pastor of New Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. He has authored 13 books, including “Where is God when I’m Mad”, “Why Did He Leave Me Like This”, and “Spiritual History and Mapping”.
He was educated at UNC-Asheville, Duke University, University of Ghana-Legon, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Eli College and Seminary.
As a returning citizen, he uses education and life experiences as Executive Director of Jordan Peer Recovery.
Pastor Micheal Woods
Bio coming soon…
