The Pastors
Shepherds who built congregations, businesses and second chances — from storefronts and living rooms to some of the largest churches in America.
Every list is published in Top 10, Top 12 and Top 15 installments. Every profile is fact-checked against its sources, and every person appears exactly once in this edition.
Three lists — ten, ten and twelve — of pastors whose pulpits began in storefronts, living rooms and rooms with ten folding chairs, and grew into some of the largest churches in America.
The second list opens with lives that turned: one pastor struck by lightning, one out of the NFL and a cocaine habit, one pronounced dead at four years old. The third gives the floor to women who were told the pulpit was not for them — and to a man who was selling crack at twelve. Every one of them is preaching anyway.
No person appears twice in this edition, and every profile is fact-checked against its sources. Taken together, the three lists argue that the pulpit, for these thirty-two, was not a first life. It was a second one — built.
The Pastors
Storefronts, living rooms and ten folding chairs — that is where some of the most powerful pulpits in America actually started.
The Pastors II
One was struck by lightning. One came out of the NFL and a cocaine habit. One was pronounced dead at four years old. The pulpit was not their first life — it was their second.
The Pastors III
They told these women the pulpit was not for them. One man on this list was selling crack at twelve. Every one of them is preaching anyway — and thousands are listening.
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Questions & Answers
Can a pastor own a business?
Every list is published in Top 10, Top 12 and Top 15 installments. Every profile is fact-checked against its sources, and every person appears exactly once in this edition. Shepherds who built congregations, businesses and second chances — from storefronts and living rooms to some of the largest churches in America. It links to 3 stories and articles — open any card to read the full piece.
How do pastors balance ministry and business?
Shepherds who built congregations, businesses and second chances — from storefronts and living rooms to some of the largest churches in America. Every list is published in Top 10, Top 12 and Top 15 installments. Every profile is fact-checked against its sources, and every person appears exactly once in this edition.
How do I read the full stories on The Pastors?
Choose any card on this page. Each one opens a full page of its own — the complete story or article, with its sources linked.