A. R. Bernard
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (August 2018) |
A. R. Bernard | |
---|---|
Born | Alfonso R. Bernard August 10, 1953 Pentecostal Christianity |
Alfonso R. Bernard, Sr. (born August 10, 1953) is the founder, CEO and pastor of the
Early life and education
Bernard was born in
Bernard gained a Master of Urban Studies and a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.[4] He has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Wagner College and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Nyack College/Alliance Theological Seminary.[5]
Career
As a young man, Bernard was a part of the Muslim American movement. He became a born again Christian in January 1975.
In 1978 he and his wife Karen, started a Bible study in the kitchen of their Brooklyn railroad apartment. Bernard left his 10-year banking career in 1979 to go into ministry full-time,
Bernard has served as the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York, as well as the Boards of Directors for the Commission of Religious Leaders (CORL), the Brooklyn Public Library and the New York City Economic Development Corporation.[7]
Bernard has founded the New School of Biblical Theology in Orlando Florida and the Brooklyn Preparatory School in New York City.[8]
During the campaigning for the 2016 presidential elections, Bernard joined the board of Donald Trump's "Evangelical Executive Advisory Board".[9] The purpose of the board was to "provide advisory support to Mr. Trump on those issues important to Evangelicals and other people of the faith in America,” the campaign said in a statement. Bernard then stepped down in 2017 quoting a "deepening conflict in values between myself and the administration."[10]
In 2018, Bernard put forward a plan to build an urban village within the CCC complex. The site was designed to include over 2,000 apartments, a grocery store, greenspace, a trade school, a performing arts center and daycare center. Half of the apartments would be reserved for people on low incomes.[11]
Personal life
Bernard has been married to Karen since 1972. They met in high school when he 15 and she 16.[6] In an interview, he revealed that they were once headed for divorce because of some decisions that he had made and that he had made his "ministry his mistress".[12] They have 7 sons and several grandchildren together.[2]
His eldest son, Alfonso R. Bernard Jr., died from an asthma attack on 4 February 2015 at the age of 39 and is survived by his wife Janel and four children.[13]
Recognition
- In 2018, he was recognised as one of New York’s 50 Most Powerful People in Brooklyn by City & State
- In 2016 the New York Times recognised him as The Power Pastor
- In 2007 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Consulate General of Israel in New York[14]
Published works
- Happiness Is (Touchstone, 2011)
- Chasing Donkeys: Finding God's Purpose at the Crossroads of Everyday Life (2013)
- Four Things Women Want from a Man (Howard Books, 2017)[15]
References
- ^ "A.R. Bernard Sr.: Former Black Muslim Speaks About Hope in Jesus By The 700 Club (CBN.com), accessed 1/20/2015". Archived from the original on 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
- ^ a b "About Us". Christian Cultural Center. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ^ a b Charisma News: "Once a Loyal Muslim, A. R. Bernard Now Marches to a Different Drum" by Herbert Toler Archived 2015-08-25 at the Wayback Machine August 22, 2015
- ^ "About the Founder". NSBT. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "A.R. Bernard". A.R. Bernard. Archived from the original on 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ^ from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ^ African American Literature Book Club
- ^ New School of Biblical Theology website
- ^ "Trump's new evangelical advisory board includes Michele Bachmann". Religion News Service. 2016-06-21. Archived from the original on 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ^ BST, Harry Farley Tue 22 Aug 2017 11:31. "AR Bernard explains why he left Trump's evangelical advisory board". www.christiantoday.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Brownstoner website
- ^ "Megachurch Pastor AR Bernard Reveals He and Wife Were Once Headed for Divorce". www.christianpost.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ^ Blau, Reuven. "Alfonso Bernard Jr., son of longtime Brooklyn pastor, dies - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ^ New School of Biblical Theology website
- ^ GoodReads website