Who Is Bishop Dwight A. Reed? His Ministry, Community Work, and Legacy
"Faith without works is dead." These words ring true when you look at the life and ministry of Bishop Dwight A. Reed. He is credited with not just influential sermons, but also serving the communities in all of Des Moines, Iowa, with a selfless ministry that makes many people refer to him as a spiritual leader and a spiritual guide.
Since he was a little boy growing up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, up to the present day, when he took over the leadership of his dad in Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc., Pastor Dwight Reed has dedicated his whole adult life to ministry and service.
In this article, the life, ministry, and community influence of Dwight A. Reed as a pastor and changemaker will be discussed.
Early Life and Spiritual Development
Dwight A. Reed was born on August 15, 1958, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, but moved to Des Moines, Iowa, shortly after, where he grew up. He came from a religious family; he is the youngest of four siblings born to Bishop Jeremiah Reed and Willie Mae Reed, with their being the founders of the Christ Apostolic Temple, and many ministries associated with it.
Dwight's early spiritual growth began with his being baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit in 1972. Dwight's father played an integral role in providing oversight, guidance, and support. With the help of his parents, Dwight has developed a strong foundation in his faith and made the decision to pursue formal education in theological studies, for Dwight earned a Master of Theology degree from JCAA Christian College and had successfully completed the required courses for the Doctor of Theology degree. Dwight's early years were further characterized by a desire and passion to be involved in the community where he lived, taking on added responsibilities in church settings that have fostered this desire into a strong pastoral ministry.
Bishop and Leadership at Christ Apostolic Temple
In 2017, Pastor Dwight Reed officially took over Christ Apostolic Temple, continuing the inspiring work of his father throughout Des Moines and blessing and building the momentum that is building every day. Under his leadership, the church has grown into the largest predominantly African American church in the entire state of Iowa. It was due to his efforts that the church emerged as a community development hub. And people are starting to call the church the Bishop Dwight Reed church. Bishop Reed encourages a model of a pastor that marries the historic past with reaching the contemporary public and the future of faith that speaks to the hearts of people and changes their lives for the better.
Pastor Dwight Reed is not just a preacher; he is a servant. The ministry of Jesus is centered on recovery, repair, and restoration that speaks to the heart, as well as the immediate needs of the community, to help take care of practical needs within the spiritual community and with purposeful actions within the community. He has worked to identify and develop initiatives and programs to develop and/or grow spiritual practices and systems for outreach to the larger community.
Programs for Growth and Healing
Beyond basic needs, Pastor Dwight Reed has also introduced programs that highlight personal growth, healing, and education. These programs include:
Road to Recovery: A program in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Corrections, helping individuals recover from addictions using a 12-step model.
Living Above Anxiety: Weekly classes on mental health that are facilitated by NAMI-trained facilitators.
Financial literacy workshops: Helping those in the community learn about money management and take the steps to improve their financial future.
Youth Summits: Safe spaces for young people to discuss issues of current concern and build leadership skills.
Marriage classes: "A Better You" is the theme used to help strengthen couples and families through Christian teachings.
These programs are evidence of Bishop Reed’s holistic vision of addressing spiritual and everyday needs in life.
Education and Empowerment
Education has always been an important part of Dwight A. Reed's life. He reorganized JW Reed Christian Academy and got the school accreditation, and this academy has already celebrated the success of students obtaining full college scholarships.
He created partnerships like P515, which trained high school students in coding and prepared them for future jobs. Through these means, Bishop Dwight Reed is still investing in the next generation of leaders.
Leadership with Compassion in Critical Times
Pastor Dwight Reed partnered with the State of Iowa to provide health equity services such as vaccination drives during the COVID-19 pandemic. His ministry introduced American Sign Language classes to ensure that worship was more inclusive and began a diabetes prevention workshop through a partnership with state health organizations. These examples showcase how Pastor Reed made a commitment to respond with compassion and take action when faced with difficult situations.
Wrapping up
The story of Bishop Dwight A. Reed is a prime example that faith and action can take you a long way. His leadership of Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc. has made his congregation and the larger community of Des Moines stronger. His work is an expression of holistic service based on faith, through food security and mental health programs, youth empowerment, and education. Pastor Dwight Reed has demonstrated that a church can be not just a place of worship, but it can be a place of hope and development, as well as a service to heal people. Bishop Reed is inspiring, serving, and changing lives every day through his vision and never-ending effort.
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Pastor Dwight Reed
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