The Owner's Story
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Reverend Jerry Bishop, formerly of Benton Harbor,Michigan, is the Founder,and Pastor, of THE LIFEQUEST URBAN OUTREACH CENTER, a Purpose and Performance based ministry located in the heart of Grand Rapids, MI.
Upon completion of high school, Rev. Bishop relocated to Grand Rapids to pursue both his under graduate and later graduate studies.
Pastor Bishop stays consistently busy in Kingdom work with a diverse 60-70 hour regular work week itinerary that ranges from the advocacy for the advancement of urban young men, school visits, hospital visits, feeding the homeless, preaching many free funeral services, counseling for the poor and unchurched, advocacy in the areas of police policy reform, prisoner re-entry, fatherhood enhancement, and the challenging arena of racial equity and inclusion.
Reverend Bishop has been in full time ministry since the founding of LIFEQUEST in 1997 after leaving a highly decorated career in corporate sales for two Fortune 50 Companies in the Telecommunications Industry and later Pharmaceutical Sales.
During his 24 year tenure of leading LIFEQUEST (which was birthed in a open gym full of young men at Calvary Church with just a basketball and a bible and funded via the help of then President Bill Clinton’s national Midnight Basketball)
Reverend Bishop has been a successful urban housing developer, has served on the school board of West Michigan’s first urban charter school,owned and operated the first coffee shop in the urban core of GR (formerly the LIFEQUEST URBAN BEANERY CAFE), served as a political lobbyist (P.R.E.P.S.) is a noted author, (Transforming Urban Lives), a consistent, advocate and mentor to hundreds of young men, as well as being frequently sought out by local and national media.
In 2001 Reverend Bishop was called on by newly elected President G.W. Bush to serve on the launch of the historic Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives as well as having sat on numerous corporate Board of Directors.
Our ministry campus, THE LIFEQUEST URBAN OUTREACH CENTER, located at 1050 Fisk, is a Christian community development oasis that is the current home to (4) churches, (3) community businesses, as well as a licensed barber and beauty shop (The Shoppe) that houses 2 barbers and 2 cosmetologists (his wife Denise & Daughter Destiney).
Reverend Bishop has served under national ministry giants such as the late Bishop William C. Abney (Bethel Pentecostal Church) the late Dr. Clifton Rhodes, Jr. (Messiah Missionary Baptist Church) and counts the late Dr. Ed Dobson (Calvary Church) as one of his most influential ministry mentors.
Reverend Bishop remains a highly sought-after speaker and lecturer among churches, institutions of higher learning,and sports programs across America. Reverend Bishop is a proud husband, father, and grandfather.
Owner's Connection To GR, Thoughts on Liberation, Reclamation
Liberation is the total freedom of mankind. Mind, body, soul, economics, territory. It is the essence of John 10:10 and proverbs 29:18
Freedom. Rebuilding. Renovation
About the Artist
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I’m a Michigan based artist from Muskegon Heights. I met my beautiful wife Brieanna Carter in middle school, made her my girlfriend in the 9th grade, and married her at 21. We have four beautiful children: three girls and one boy. And a crazy dog named Loki.
As a kid I was heavily influenced by family artist/designer Joey Williams (father) and painter, Carl Carter (uncle). Growing up under these talented artists influenced my decision to become an artist at an early age. From there, most of my childhood was spent either outside dribbling a basketball or somewhere tucked away scribbling and reading art books.
Because of my love for art, I now have over 20 plus years of experience. I’ve done everything from airbrushing on t-shirts and painting murals for big companies like Kellogg’s to tattooing right here in Grand Rapids. No matter what I accomplish as an artist I will forever be a student striving to become a better artist every chance I get.
ARTIST'S CONNECTION TO GR, THOUGHTS ON LIBERATION, RECLAMATION
To reclaim something, implies something was taken. The ability to move around that notion and create in a space of lack is liberating. It’s a defining moment. A moment in which I realized I’m more capable than I thought. The truth is we all are. But, if something was indeed taken. That’s exactly how we get it back. Knowing that our ancestors took what little they had and created something incredible. That mindset is a testament to our potential as a people.
When I think of the word Reclamation, I envision more of a mental exchange. To reclaim a place of peace, love, and stability. Our internal world lacks the attention it deserves. We have to reclaim and restore peace within ourselves in order to see the change we all desperately deserve.
Liberation is releasing the ideas that have been indoctrinated into our mind that has kept us complacent and rule abiding for generations. Rule abiding in the sense of fitting a mold that was never intended for growth and prosperity. To be happy with nothing, working towards nothing. We are all different and capable of incredible things. In order to reach those things, we have to be free of all lies that say we are less.