You know the saying that says, “Almost everyone will make a good first impression, but only a few will make a good lasting impression.” Well, Pastor Mike Jr., AKA PMJ, certainly makes a lasting impression. If you’re a nonbeliever, just pull up, grab a seat and get into this interview with me. Pastor Mike Jr. is the senior pastor of Birmingham’s Rock City Church that once made national headlines for purchasing billboard space and strategically placing the billboard in front of a gentlemen’s club. The billboard read “Strip for Me – Hebrews 12 :1 (NLT) – Jesus.” which translates to “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. In addition to leading his congregation, PMJ is an award-winning musical artist and the recipient of the 2021 Stella Award “Artist of the Year.” Taking his place alongside giants in the music industry such as Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, and Tasha Cobbs, to name a few. As brilliant as PMJ’s predecessors may be, there is only one Pastor Mike Jr. with a musical sound that is so unique. PMJ has crossover appeal hitting the gospel charts and will undoubtedly take his place in multiple genres. Appealing to a diverse group of audiences by spreading messages of hope, and healing through the power of dope beats and smooth vocals that could have one ready to reflect about life. PMJ is a real person who provides his followers and fans the feeling of being able to form true authentic connections without judgment and most importantly familiarity. PMJ is the one to look out for, and I have no doubt that he is the future.
Your 2021 Stella Award “Artist of the Year” Acceptance Speech was so impactful, and I just want to acknowledge the depth of your transparency and thank you for speaking to an audience who may be trying to find their way. What was your defining moment when you realized that you did not fit in a box?
I would have to say my defining moment was when I accepted that it didn’t have to be either-or, but there was room to be both and. I don’t have to be a pastor or a musical artist, God has gifted me the ability to be both. Paul said it best, I have become all things to all people that I might save some. One of the best comments I will ever get is people who say they gave up on God or never was interested in gospel music say that they are really feeling a song, or a song really spoke to them. The joy of music for me is sharing God in an unconventional way that really reaches people wherever they are in ways a sermon might never.
During your acceptance speech, you shared that you dropped out of college. When did you decide that the college route was not for you?
Honestly, college was never really the thing I wanted to do. My entire life all I wanted to do was to pastor. Looking back at it if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone to a Christian college or seminary right out of high school.
Many young adults often experience the pressure of living up to their parent’s expectations which often leads to one abandoning what their heart truly desires. What advice would you give to anyone who is struggling to follow their heart?
Follow your heart. It’s one of the hardest things I had to do. They wanted me to go to college and get a business degree or something, but my path was different. Of course, now they look back and say it was God but that wasn’t the case early on. You have to trust the God in you and the God they placed in you.
Even with my children, I’m working hard to make sure I am not putting the pressure of preaching and music on them. I want them to find their own paths. It can be very difficult, but you have to trust God.
Outside of being an amazing award-winning Gospel artist, you also lead a congregation. How do you manage your role as a Pastor, a Family Man, and a Recording Artist, and how do you find that work-life balance?
It’s difficult. I’m doing the best I can. My life is not built-in order, I set it up in orbit. Order is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Which means I have to abide by order. God, Family, church, music. Well, there are times when music, these stellar awards come before a regular Sunday service. I had the opportunity to sing on one of the biggest stages, however, my son’s football game was on Thursday. He wound up getting an interception that almost won them the game. I would have missed the moment.
I deal in orbit not order. I put God in the middle and I allow everything to revolve around that. There are times when the family is closer, or the career is closer.
It’s 2021 and we are still experiencing the Covid 19 Pandemic where there has been an abundance of fear, anxiety, and loss of life. How do you keep your faith in such uncertain times? And what words of encouragement can you offer to people who are doubtful?
I lean on my faith man. So many people are dealing with the harsh reality that things are not the way they expected them to be. Quarantine has revealed so much of the disconnection and the pains that we bury deep inside. We mask them by celebrating, we mask them by hanging out and being around people. Quarantine and COVID19 have shown us that a lot of us really didn’t grow up we just buried things in the past. It’s forcing us to deal with it. Use this time as a reset. Don’t rush back to a norm that is no longer there.
I had an opportunity to listen to your album “I Got It: Singles Ministry, Vol. 1, and I must say that the vibes, the beats, and the messages, are dope. As a married man, what is your motivation behind advising singles to embrace their single season?
As a pastor, I have the opportunity to work with a lot of singles. There’s no chapter in the bible devoted to teaching people how to date or how to even be single. This project is born from various conversations I have had with them and teaching throughout the years. It’s also peppered with my advice as a married man for those who are looking to eventually be married.
With your music being urban and trendy, have you ever experienced any pushback or opposition with staying true to your authentic self?
People will always criticize what they don’t understand. But again, the testimonies and changed lives speak for themselves. I’ll be the object of ridicule if it helps to bring somebody to God.
It has been documented that there have been waves of young adults, particularly African Americans who are moving away from organized religion, due to feeling judged, not feeling accepted, and just questioning the existence of God. What would you say to someone who may be experiencing those feelings?
This may not be a popular opinion, but I encourage people who have questions to ask those questions and seek out the answers. Many of us initially become Christians because it was the thing to do. However, I think we are more effective when we actually believe in the life we are living and the word we are sharing. I am a firm believer that what we must pursue more than ever is relationships,s not religion. We all grew up in a church where people were wearing white but had black hearts. I would rather hold space for people to have questions and grow into it than force them to accept something that they don’t truly believe or later regret.
What’s next for PMJ? The Pastor and the Recording Artist?
Continue to grow our church in Birmingham, AL. and embracing our global reach. People are watching from as far as London and Dubai. California, Milwaukee, Ohio. It’s maximizing the global reach and platform God has given us. It’s growing the church and trying to make a difference in people’s lives. Love God and make a difference, that’s our mission and that’s what we are trying to do.
As far as Recording Artists. I want to continue to push the envelope. I want to continue to take risks. I don’t want to be known solely as a Gospel artist but an artist that’s so in love with God who taps into everything he has. Who taps into all the creativity that he has that’s why when you see thank you the imagery is so crazy or Singles Ministry would take a risk and it sounds so R&B or the Amazing rendition of Cee Lo Green and then you go out with a Big which is so church. I just don’t want to be boxed in and I want to be able to explore all the creative avenues that God has given me.
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