Michael W. Waters is founding pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas—one of fastest-growing AME churches in the state.

He is a graduate of Perkins School of Theology. As pastor, preacher, professor, motivational speaker, community organizer, and author, his work has appeared on the Huffington Post, NPR, NBC, and in his book Freestyle: Reflections on Faith, Family, Justice, and Pop Culture.