When the Pastor Dr. Gets Louder Than Jesus - Priorities? A Look at Jamal Bryant’s Target

So, I’m over here minding my own business, sipping tea and scrolling—you know, peaceful-like—when my love bug hits me up:

“Bae, go watch the Isaac Carree Show with Dr. Jamal Bryant.”

Now you already know when somebody says a name like Jamal Bryant, you sit up a little straighter and clutch your pearls. Cause he does the most. He ain’t no degular bishop. This man is newsworthy. So, I tuned in.

It started off real cute.

They went down memory lane. Jamal talked about his journey into ministry, his rough start, how he got his GED and eventually made his way to Morehouse. Y’all, that’s beautiful. Black men overcoming obstacles? I’m clapping with two hands and a church fan.

But then we get to the juicy part.

My guy says he’s been boycotting Target and it is a really big thing.
Excuse me, what?

I was today years old when I found out Dr. Bryant there was a solo protest.

Now don’t get me wrong—I’m all for taking a stand. But Target is one of many companies that have stopped their DEI. A lot of folks wave the DEI flag but only want to “include” people who already agree with them.

Sir, you’ve been real hard on folks who don’t share your political stance—and that ain’t very Kingdom of you. The Word tells us in Proverbs 11:14, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” And again in Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

I thought Minister Farrakhan taught us to do for self. So why boycott a store that provides jobs and groceries for our people? If Target shuts down, who’s gonna pay tithes and offering when the saints are out here unemployed and eating noodles for dinner?

Target ain’t even flinched. Matter fact, they said a tree for a tree! They’re building a new 128,000-square-foot store near I-25 opening in 2026. That’s not just “we ain’t worried,” that’s “we got time and square footage.” Target said, a boycott for a bricklaying ceremony, chile.

And let me tell you something from someone who used to work in corporate America:
Don’t let these “statements” fool you. These companies know how to pivot with the wind and keep it pushing.

Let’s channel that energy into building minority-owned businesses that can scale like Target—not just survive, but thrive and dominate shelves from coast to coast. From innovators not just customers.

Then came the moment that made my eyebrows jump.

Dr. Bryant shares that his wife told him the church—or maybe she meant the church folks—calls his name more than they call on Jesus.
😳
Ma’am.

Now at my house? We call Jesus all the time. No shade to Pastor, but if you’re hearing more “Jamal” than “Jesus,” we might need to check the playlist. That ain’t no gospel concert; that’s an ego rally. Sis said what she said.

But let me give credit where it’s due.

Jamal said he believes he was born for New Birth. Now that—that right there? That was powerful.

No I get it he wants to honor Bishop Eddie Long, the founder of New Birth for how he changed his life and helped him through school. It’s beautiful when we remember that God is married to His church—and to see New Birth still thriving is a reminder that God doesn’t abandon His house, even when people do.

I am sure his children feel the same way.

Still, I gotta give my big cousin-in-Christ some gentle advice:
Pastor Bryant, be mindful of how you D E your Is and engage.

But really Dr. Jamal Bryant is gifted, no doubt. But we gotta make sure our gifts don’t become golden calves. Let Jesus have top billing in His house. And let’s keep our boycotts in sync with strategy, not just sentiment.