Reverend James R. Bryson, Jr., is an accomplished Preacher/Teacher, Musician, Minister of Music, Workshop Facilitator, Businessman, Entrepreneur and Pastor.

He has served in ministry in varying capacities for many years.  Most notably, Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, Chicago, IL. (Rev. Huford Norwood, Pastor) and Progressive Community Church (Rev. Dr. B. Herbert Martin, Sr., Pastor).  In 1993, James accepted the call to ministry and was ordained by Rev. Dr. B. Herbert Martin, Sr. (Pastor of Progressive Community Church) Rev. Huford Norwood (Pastor of Maryland Avenue Baptist Church) and Rev. Theodore A. Richardson (Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church, Chicago, IL.).  While continuing to serve as Progressive’s Minister of Music, Reverend Bryson served as Associate Minister and Church Administrator.  He also served as Project Manager for the National Progressive Institute for Community Development, the church’s 501(3) entity which developed and managed the church’s successful multi-family housing initiatives.

He continued to serve other churches such as St. Ailbe Catholic Church, Chicago, IL, (Father John Breslin, Pastor) First Church of Deliverance, Chicago, IL. (Bishop Otto T. Houston, Pastor), Oakdale Covenant Church, Chicago, IL. (Rev. Dr. D. Darrel Griffin, Pastor), Progressive Baptist Church, Chicago, IL. (Rev. Dr. Willie R. Davis, Pastor) and St. Mark United Methodist Church under the pastorates of Rev. Dr. Jon E. McCoy and Rev. P. Devon Brown.

Reverend Bryson graduated from Governors State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (Cum Laude) and as a member of the Alpha Iota Sigma Honor Society.  He is currently a student at McCormick Theological Seminary in the Master of Divinity Degree Program.

In addition to ministerial and musical assignments throughout the years, Reverend Bryson is also an accomplished business professional having served as Cash Management Officer of the First National Bank of Chicago (19 years), Administrator of the Catholic Charities Housing Development Corp. (4 years), and Regional Sales and Marketing Director of Senior Lifestyle Corporation (7 years).  Reverend Bryson also founded Senior Housing Search, Inc. and Bryson Development Associates which provided senior housing search services and developer consulting services until 2016.

He strives to love his family and develop them for the calls placed upon their lives.  Reverend Bryson is the proud father of James R. Bryson, III, Justin A. Bryson, Tarnisha Smith and Yolanda Moorehead as well as the grandfather of Johnavan Bryson and Xavier Smith and sees great promise in their respective futures. He is also blessed to have two siblings, Joyce Bryson and Paul Bryson and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives who shows much love and devotion for him and his callings.

After participating in an extensive search process, Reverend Bryson was elected by the First Church of Deliverance to serve as Pastor on October 30, 2016.  Since his election, the church has experienced growth and renewal.  The future plans under Reverend Bryson’s pastorate include the continued implementation of Reverend Cobb’s vision for the church, the revitalization and growth of the membership, the expansion of their local and international outreach endeavors, the rehabilitation and expansion of the church facilities and other property holdings, and the development of ministries that will inform and empower the membership to continue to bring the light of Jesus into the world.

Reverend Bryson remains deeply committed to the scripture from I Corinthians 9:22, that defines his motivation….
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”