Bryant Temple AME Church’s new Minister of Music Brent Jones brings an impressive array of talent and credentials. He replaced the late Michael Johnson, who left a substantial legacy of 27 years of service.
Bryant Temple Senior Pastor Dwaine Jackson expressed his delight that Brent Jones accepted the post.
“Minister Jones is a renowned musician and producer, having graced stages all over the world. His music is a mainstay on gospel radio stations. He brings an enormous amount of energy and passion that will be infectious to our congregation,” Jackson noted. “We are very fortunate to have him.”
Jones has a unique connection with the local gospel listening audience. He sees that as key to his success.
“It’s very important for me to be connected to the local church,” he noted. “I hear hip-hop artists talk about being connected to the street; keeping their ear to the street. Likewise, I keep my ear connected to the church.
“It’s important to keep your ear to what people are singing, what the ministers of music are teaching, what choirs are singing, what praise teams are singing Sunday-to-Sunday, week-to-week. In keeping my ear to that and knowing what the people are responding to, I believe that is what has kept me relevant in this industry,” he said.
Jones is comfortable in the dual role of headliner and local church minister of music because he understands the relationship of the dual roles.
“Separating myself in being a recording artist and minister of music doesn’t make sense because what I do as an artist is just a bigger platform than what I already do as minister of music.
“I don’t ever want to feel that I no longer need to be attached to the local church,” he observed. Being a recording artist is just a platform that God gives me to show forth my gifts on a bigger stage, without neglecting the smaller stage.”
He completed the production of his most recent recording project on February 10. The project consists of twelve new songs, that he described as “Sunday-morning friendly.”
“I came into this industry doing more urban, hip-hop flavored stuff like ‘Don’t Wait Til Midnight’ and ‘Good Times.’ Then someone told me, ‘Brent, people don’t know that you do Sunday morning, that you’re a minister of music and a worship leader.’
“So we did a record, ‘Joy Comin.’ People really found out that Brent Jones did church. Songs like ‘He Rose,’ and (title track) ‘Joy Comin.’ Real, good Sunday morning hits that ministers of music and praise team leaders can teach week-to-week. They don’t feel that this is too artistic for their church, or too advanced for their choir. The new songs will be an extension of what you hear on ‘Joy Comin,’” he said.
Bryant Temple is located at 2525 W. Vernon Avenue, at the corner of 4th Avenue. Sunday Bible Institute begins at 8:15 a.m. The worship service begins at 9:15 a.m. The church office can be contacted at (323) 293-6201 for information.
