C O V E R S T O R Y
Anderson has always been an out-of-the box,
there is no box, only opportunity person! He
has always looked for ways beyond his scope to
maximize his call. With this mindset, Anderson
requested reassignment from Christ United
Methodist Church to enhance his non-profit
ventures. “Honestly, in retrospect, at the time,
this seemed like the absolutely worse decision I
had made. Everything seemed like it was falling.
My family was suffering, my connections were
minimal and at one point I thought that I had
taken on too much. I did not have any money
because I was placing my time into building a
non-profit organization. Without money, I was
not able to do for my family the way I wanted to
and consequently, I suffered the hardship of that.
No income equaled my family shattering and this
rocky road of failures faced me daily. I had to do
something in addition to running my non-profit
so I agreed to take another small multi-racial
church – Good Samaritan United Methodist
Church in Smokey City.” In hindsight, it was
faith that prompted me to start Voice of
Harmony Ministries, but it was vision that
kept me moving forward to opening a
network of schools.
Anderson explains that when he looks back
over what seemed like failures, he sees where
everything was actually designing his path
for the success he is experiencing now. The
setup: Running a non-profit; living without
income; developing programs; creating
connections; negotiating contracts; volunteering
and hustling for urban children in North
Memphis. The step-up: 6 successful Charter
Schools in the City of Memphis. We can all
agree that this is a good place to insert a praise!
The spiritual answer while fighting tears to
the distress and sacrifice that Anderson
summarizes with this phase of life is found
in Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to
his purpose.” It is PURPOSE that drives
vision and vision cultivates purpose. Anderson
states, “Things could have been better, but I
do not regret what I have experienced as it has
made me in total who I am today. I can tell
you that I have been in a place that made
me want to hide.
I have felt the burden of my shortcomings and
literally thought about working in another
country to run away from the after-math of bad
decisions. BUT GOD. Point. Blank. Period. I
said it once and I will always say it – nothing
was going to crush my faith. I had to understand
that it was because of these changes that I have
been able to be the father that I am to my
children and be a better husband as well. I fell
short in areas and only time now can heal that,
but I am grateful for every valley lesson that
I know share while going up the mountain.”
Anderson advises young preachers to
always have a steady income coming into
the household at all times and to communicate
well the plans you have to financially support
a family and a Church. “If your wife is not
working and you are trying to go to school
or pursue avenues that do not produce a steady
income from the onset, one must re-evaluate
those plans so that it does not destroy the fabric
of the family. It can be done – but it must be
carefully evaluated. Money is necessary! We
cannot live off of tangible items – it takes
finances to pay bills and oversee a family.
If the family life is not secure, the Church life
will suffer greatly”, expresses Anderson. He
goes on to state, “I stepped out, but at the time
I was young and inexperienced. You do not
have to make that mistake of family hardship
if you have a financial plan in place.” The real
truth is that the family is first and money is
necessary. “Never go into ministry with greed
and always recognize your value”, says
Anderson.
This story of success has been truly
sanctioned by the Grace of the all-sufficient
God. As we fast-forward this amazing
journey, Anderson is the Founder and CEO
of the Memphis Business Academy Charter
Schools, which includes the Memphis STEM
Academy, a successful network of 6 schools.
His involvement in the legislation for Charter
schools to come to Tennessee is also attributed
to his success. He has well over 100 employees
and he has led the network from its inception
until present. It is remarkable to note that this
network has grown from 60 students in its first
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