ATLANTA (TND) — A Georgia pastor well known for his unorthodox ideas is going viral for his plan to get more people, especially Black men and those who “smell like weed,” into his church.
Pastor Jamal Bryant ofNew Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta shared his idea on the “Cool Soror Podcast w/Rashan Ali” podcast on Dec. 7. He added that his church could possibly help those men “legally” find jobs working in the cannabis industry.
Bryant said in the interview he was hoping his idea would not only drive membership to his church, but also drive entrepreneurship in the Black community. He also says he thinks churches, especially megachurches, need to reinvent themselves, or else they’ll soon die out.
I’m mindful that I’m not after Christians, I’m after people who don’t go to church,” Bryant said. “Churches are just recycling people from other churches. I’m looking for people who smell like weed.”
New Birth is the largest land-owning Black church in America. My position to my deacons is ‘why aren’t we not raising cannabis?’” Bryant added.
If his church did begin growing weed, Bryant says he would “be able to bring in Black males. They’re able to do it legally. Teaching them farming, helping them to enhance the ecosystem.”
This is the kind of conversation. So if the guy, Black boy, in Bankhead said ‘they growing weed at the church? Where do I join?’ I don’t need no pamphlet for him,” Bryant said.
Following the interview, Bryant took to social media to clarify and expand on his statements.
In an Instagram Live on Dec. 8, Bryant elaborated on his plan, and also said he plans to open a clinic on his church’s campus within 180 days.
I want people who smell like smoke because I believe these are the people God is looking for and too many of us have become so puffed up in our self-appointed sanctification that we fail to do outreach,” Bryant said on Instagram. “In no uncertain terms is cannabis, hemp a ploy or distraction from winning souls to Christ.”
Bryant claims on his Instagram Live that his church has brought 2,371 people to form a relationship with Jesus Christ, and that more than 3,000 people have joined his congregation in the last year.
The call is not to bring people to smoke at church, the call is to bring people to church so they can catch on fire,” Bryant said. “It is my intention that if we can show young people the advantages and impact of urban farming, it will make a distinct difference.”
I believe the responsibility of the church is transformation,” Bryant added. “That the young men who used to poison our communities, now help heal them and I believe that hemp is one of the ways we can do it.”
Georgia marijuana lawsare more restrictive than other states in the U.S. Medical marijuana is permitted, but the program is heavily monitored and patients are on a registry.
Recreation marijuana remains illegal in the state, but some cities like Atlanta have decriminalized possession of up to one ounce. It’s unclear how Bryant plans to incorporate his plans given these restrictions.
The pastor admits that while many will see his idea as “unconventional,” he believes he serves “an unconventional God.”
If this idea doesn’t work, Bryant promises to try something else.
