Pastor Jamal Bryant Says God Has Anointed Him to Serve a Crass Generation
He also appeared to address the issue of mental health in the black church.
"It is amazing that one of the taboos within our community is that we never give full redress to mental health. Is that many times in church we talk about saving our souls but sometimes we do it at the neglect of people who are losing their minds," he said.
"This is the hour ladies and gentlemen that if in fact you are a Christian, allow your actions to speak louder than your words. It is my hope, it is my aim, it is my intention, that since God has anointed me to anoint and in fact speak and impart to a generation who has never been able to sit at a table but a generation who has in fact been reared to eat out of a paper bag, that sometimes Psalm 23, is the only thing appropriate. He prepares a table in the presence of your enemies," said Bryant.
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Despite being asked to stay away from the streets of Baltimore, Bryant said that he would continue to serve where he was called by helping to set the table "for people who don't know which fork to use."
"I'm appreciative of the privilege to serve and that knowing that the bounty and the burden of serving is knowing that you cannot in fact just be a chef and sometimes not be a waiter. You've got to be able to clean up mess you didn't create. You've got to know how to set the table for people who don't know which fork to use. You've got to know how to pour even with people that don't know if they've already has enough," said Bryant.
The Empowerment Temple Church pastor leads a congregation of 12,000 and has been in the news lately for allegations that he fathered a child out of wedlock with 34-year-old Latoya Shawntee Odom.
Addressing the issue for the first time since the allegations came to light, Bryant revealed in another Periscope session with his followers last month that his lawyers advised him not to share any details with the public.
"Over the last week, a lot has been said and a lot has been suggested and like you I was thrown into a tailspin. I had to shut down for a minute so that my response would not be that of a man but be priestly as a man of God. To that end, let me say to you I am one of those rare people who are flawed with character. That with all of my issues I don't run from them I stand right next to them," Bryant began on the controversy.
"Those of you who have been with me you are fully aware that some eight, nine years now, I went through a divorce and claimed all of it my responsibility. The worst mistake you can ever make is to repeat the exact same mistake," he said.
Bryant doesn't confirm or deny the allegations that 10-month-old John Karston Bryant who was born on July 7, 2015, is indeed his biological son.
Odom presented documentation of a paternity test carried out by LB Genetics that suggests Bryant is 99.9999 percent the father of her child.
[WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE]
