To Inspire Future Educators, Doctors, Entrepreneurs, and Lifelong Learners: Dr. Jamal Bryant Awards $2 Million in Scholarships to 400 Metro Atlanta Grads via HBCU Partnership.
On June 29, 2025, during a powerful Sunday morning service, Senior Pastor Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church transformed the altar into an altar of opportunity, where dreams could come true. In a bold act of faith, he awarded $2 million in scholarships to 400 recent graduates from metro Atlanta high schools. The scholarships, designed to foster the next generation of doctors, entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders, will support students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other institutions committed to student success.
The announcement was far more than a ceremony; it was a celebration of legacy and vision. Students received not only financial support but a heartfelt promise: that their futures are seen, valued, and worth investing in. Tears, smiles, and embraces filled the sanctuary, marking a moment when purpose met possibility. This was a testament to the power of faith, partnership, and belief in the brilliance of young Black scholars. “When we invest in our young people,” Dr. Bryant declared to roaring applause, “we’re planting seeds that will grow into doctors, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will shape the future of our communities and our world.”
This partnership unites New Birth Missionary Baptist Church with 16 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), each committed to advancing equity and educational excellence. Participating institutions include:
Participating HBCUs
Arkansas Baptist College
Benedict College
Bennett College
Clinton College
Coppin State University
Huston–Tillotson University
Jarvis Christian University
Morris Brown College
Morris College
Paine College
Paul Quinn College
Shorter College
Simmons College of Kentucky
Southern University
Stillman College
Wiley College
In attendance at the service were representatives from each institution, offering students generous scholarship opportunities, mentorship, heartfelt words of encouragement, and a warm preview of campus life. Their presence consisted of informational support. As many have described, “a spiritual homecoming for higher education.” New Birth’s sanctuary echoed with praise and personal testimonies, affirming the church’s enduring role as a pillar of education and empowerment.
De’Onqua Isaac, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Morris College, highlighted the historical significance of the black church’s involvement in higher education, “Historically, the Black church has always played a pivotal role in supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Through their intentional support, New Birth continues to amplify the transformative impact we have on both our communities and the future of higher education.”
On behalf of Morris College, Isaac awarded over 20 scholarships, joining fellow leaders from other HBCUs in affirming students as future trailblazers and models of impact. Representing a broad spectrum of aspirations, the scholarship recipients hail from diverse neighborhoods across the metro Atlanta area, from Decatur to Douglasville, Georgia.
Many are first-generation college students. Some come from working-class families whose dreams have been constrained by systemic barriers and limited resources. Others were raised in single-parent households where college opportunities were scarce or simply out of reach. This scholarship is not just funding tuition, but opening doors that may never have been visible before.
This scholarship program rewrites the narrative, transforming financial support into legacy, and belief in Black excellence. Dr. M. Yvett Wimberly, an advocate and educational leader, captured the emotional magnitude of the moment, saying: “We are turning obstacles into opportunities, stumbling blocks into stepping stones, trials into triumphs, and setbacks into setups.” That ethos, faith meeting action, is at the heart of the church’s mission: advocating for community needs and transforming challenges into opportunity and hope.
As these ambitious students walked across the altar, they received a standing ovation and several rounds of applause. Tears began to flow as families cheered with pride, joy, and palpable relief. In that moment, these students saw themselves not only supported and valued, but truly seen.
For Dr. Bryant, it was the culmination of years of intentional groundwork, shaping New Birth into a beacon of hope, empowerment, and educational opportunity. “This is about legacy,” he repeated. “This is about investing in institutions that have been investing in us for generations.”
The institutions are diverse, reinforcing a key message: there are many paths to success, each rooted in resilience, history, and relevance.
With the presence of HBCU leaders, the pulpit met the podium, bridging the gap between spiritual empowerment and academic excellence, reminding all in attendance that cultivating young minds is both a calling and a strategic investment in our future.
Its long-term vision is what truly sets this initiative apart. It’s not just about getting students into college; it’s about helping them thrive once they’re there, academically, emotionally, and spiritually. The church has plans to provide ongoing mentorship through its leaders, offering guidance, encouragement, and connection. By linking students with engaged alumni and a supportive faith community, New Birth ensures this scholarship is more than a gift.
“We’re not just cutting checks—we’re building futures,” one church elder stated.
No stranger to bold declarations of impact, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Jamal Bryant, has consistently championed a wide range of causes, from social justice and economic empowerment to disaster relief and voter engagement. With thousands of members and a well-established international footprint, New Birth has become a hub for purpose and community-driven change.
Nestled in the close-knit community of Stonecrest, Georgia, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church remains rooted in both innovation and tradition. The ripple effects of its investment are already beginning to unfold, as scholarship recipients prepare to step onto college campuses across the nation. With the hope that their leadership will enrich not only classrooms but entire neighborhoods, this initiative doesn’t end with tuition payments; it lives on in student unions, research labs, and learning environments where change begins.
Helping students believe they belong in college, not just attend, sends a powerful message through Dr. Bryant’s announcement.
In a time when access to education remains unequal, initiatives like this offer more than hope. They deliver strategy. Vision and a call to action.
