NYC's Largest Evangelical Church Celebrates 'Evolution' of Leadership as Founder Installs Son as Senior Pastor
Jamaal Bryant takes the helm as senior pastor as his father and founder of the Christian Cultural Center, Dr. A.R. Bernard, steps aside.
The Christian Cultural Center (CCC), New York City’s largest evangelical church, celebrated a significant milestone with the installation of its new senior pastor, Jamaal Bernard, on Friday. In an emotional ceremony, the church’s founding pastor, the Rev. Dr. A.R. Bernard, officially passed the mantle of leadership to his son.
After his installation, Pastor Jamaal addressed the enthusiastic congregation, vowing to continue shepherding, protecting, challenging, and guiding them.
“Stand with me in faith. Pray without ceasing. Serve with joy. Love one another deeply,” he urged from the stage.
Moments earlier, in a powerful moment, Pastor Jamaal — joined by his wife, Rita — knelt on stage facing the congregation. The Rev. Bernard, along with clergy and board members, prayed over the couple and formally charged the new senior pastor with the care of the congregation. After being anointed with holy oil, Pastor Jamaal received a shepherd’s stole and a large Bible.
"I am honored to be entrusted with this role and grateful for the opportunity to build upon the legacy of my father and the Christian Cultural Center family,” Pastor Jamaal said in a statement released ahead of the ceremony. “This is more than a leadership transition; it is a call to serve, to innovate, and to ensure that CCC remains a place where lives are transformed and communities are strengthened. We will continue to expand our reach and impact, equipping the next generation to lead with faith and purpose."
Based in Brooklyn, CCC has grown from its beginnings in 1978 as a storefront church into a multisite megachurch with over 40,000 members and additional campuses in Long Island, Atlanta, and Orlando. It remains the largest evangelical church in New York City.
"As a father and as a pastor, it is both humbling and deeply gratifying to see Jamaal step into this new season of leadership,” said Rev. Bernard, 72, in a statement preceding the September 19 ceremony. “From an early age, he has embraced service, developed his own voice, and demonstrated a steadfast commitment to ministry. I am confident that under his leadership, Christian Cultural Center will continue to thrive while remaining rooted in the values of faith, compassion, and excellence that have defined our church since its founding."
Pastor Jamaal has long been a key figure in CCC’s leadership, most notably serving as senior pastor of the church’s Long Island campus for a decade. According to his father, he earned his new role through “proximity and obedience.”
The two-hour, livestreamed installation ceremony at the 11.5-acre Brooklyn campus featured several prominent guests, including Pastor John Gray of Relentless Church; Dr. David Ireland of Christ Church; Bishop Victor Brown of Mt. Sinai United Christian Church; and Bishop Dale C. Bronner of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, who served as master of ceremonies.
 | A guest post by
|