Atlanta is home to fast cars, mansions, the southern elite, and a "new generation of up-and-coming preachers who are superstars of the pulpit," proclaims producers of the new "Preachers of Atlanta" television show that premieres Feb. 3. This third installation from the popular "Preachers" franchise documents the lives of the city's young, elite mega-pastors as they focus on daily struggles and triumphs as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and friends, while also maintaining their duties as men and women of God, states the show's creators in Atlanta Daily World.
"Preachers of Atlanta" offers a fresh perspective on men and women of the cloth determined to meet people in their current circumstances to inspire a resurgence of faith, explains the show's staff.
Different approaches to ministry will be seen through the lens of five Atlanta-based pastors. The show reportedly explores many of the "most hot-button and polarizing issues" currently experienced in America.
"'Preachers of Atlanta' features a young, vibrant group of pastors who are pushing the envelope and tackling real-world issues in their communities, creating thought-provoking dialogue," said Rod Aissa, executive vice president of Original Programming and Development, Oxygen Media.
"The series showcases preachers who, through their nontraditional approaches, are unapologetic in their ministry and unafraid to break down boundaries in an effort to drive positive change."
The Atlanta show includes the ministerial activities of Pastor Corey Hambrick, Pastor Le'Andria Johnson, Pastor Canton Jones, Pastor Kimberly Jones-Pothier and Pastor Judah Swilley.
An Atlanta native, Hambrick is the pastor of the Life Church Christian Center. A Grammy® Award-winning recording artist, Johnson currently pastors I.P.C. (Imperfect People Changing) Ministries in Atlanta. A Florida native, Jones found his ministering voice through the power of music and is the pastor of Free Life Church. Jones-Pothier is a life coach and mentor with the desire to lead others to their purpose by realizing their passion. She leads a movement called Conquering Hell in High Heels and travels the world preaching, teaching and leading others as she "loves people back to life." Swilley grew up in the ministry and is a fifth-generation preacher. He recently launched a new church called The Movement, where he pastors full-time at weekly worship services, hoping to inspire youth to come back to the church.
From passionate discussions about the "validity of unorthodox ministry methods to first-person accounts of the rippling and emotional effects of racial tensions with law enforcement," the show's producers claim these unconventional preachers have no boundaries when it comes to tackling real issues that affect real people in their communities. Their ministries include communicating spiritual messages through hip-hop lyrics and venturing into the neighborhoods of Atlanta to find those in need. The pastors are real, passionate, and unashamed in their transparency, using their imperfections and out-of-the-box ways to reach a new generation for God.
The inaugural season of Oxygen-produced "Preacher of L.A." attracted enough audience to film a second season, as well as prompt spin-offs for the cities of Detroit and Atlanta. During 2015, the first season of "Preachers of Detroit" aired.
