Category: Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight

Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters is a nationally respected preacher, author, and prophetic voice whose ministry spans congregational leadership, public witness, and academic scholarship. His work draws from the rich traditions of Black preaching and liberation theology to call communities toward truth, reconciliation, and collective healing.

Tell us about your ministry and leadership.
I’m founder and Lead Pastor of Abundant Life A.M.E. Church and pastor of Greater Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, both in Texas. I also write, speak, and research African American preaching and prophetic witness.

What experience affirmed your call to ministry?
Following 9/11, I shared words of hope in a national broadcast. Responses from across the world affirmed that my voice could be a vessel for healing.

What legacy do you hope to leave?
Like Dr. King, I want to be remembered as someone who tried to serve others, love radically, and walk humbly in pursuit of justice.

What does Juneteenth mean to you?
As a descendant of enslaved Texans, Juneteenth is sacred. It’s Exodus. It’s Jubilee. It is the day my family became free.

How does your preaching connect with Juneteenth?
Preaching should instigate spiritual and social transformation. Juneteenth calls us to proclaim liberation—in pulpits and in public.

Through scholarship, storytelling, and sacred action, Rev. Dr. Waters proclaims Jubilee in every space he enters.

Minister Christian S. Watkins leads with conviction and clarity at the intersection of policy and prophetic ministry. Serving as Government Relations Advocate at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, he champions legislative change on issues including reparatory justice and criminal legal reform.

Tell us about your current role and the work you are doing.

I serve as Government Relations Advocate at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, focusing on criminal justice reform, democracy, and reparatory justice.

What led you to pursue theological education?

After years in corporate roles, I returned to my call. Perkins offered rigorous academics and a place to align my faith with social activism.

What does Juneteenth mean to you?

Juneteenth is Jubilee—it echoes Luke 4 and reminds me that freedom and justice are core to the Gospel.

How did Perkins prepare you for this work?

Perkins sharpened my theology and provided leadership opportunities—from the Black Seminarians Association to #BlackAtSMU organizing.

What advice do you offer faith leaders engaging justice work?

Know who and whose you are. When you lead from your divine calling, you’ll have the grace to do the work of justice.

From Capitol Hill to local congregations, Minister Watkins bridges faith and justice with prophetic clarity. His work echoes the call of Juneteenth—to proclaim freedom and pursue liberation for all.

Katie Pryor is a spiritual leader, preacher, and storyteller whose ministry bridges faith, justice, and sacred belonging. Through her work with United Women in Faith, she empowers women to grow in grace, rise in leadership, and co-create a liberated future rooted in faith and fellowship.

Tell us about your current role and the work you are doing.

I serve as the Executive for Membership Nurture + Development at United Women in Faith, where I help shape spirit-filled, radically welcoming spaces for women to grow in grace, rise in leadership, and move mountains together.

What inspired you to pursue ministry and theological education?

I wanted answers deeper than just “Jesus” when young people asked me questions about faith. Perkins gave me the space to question and grow.

Can you describe a moment that affirmed your calling?

When members I’ve only met through a screen tell me in person that my voice has spoken for them—that’s when I know I’m walking in my calling.

What does Juneteenth mean to you personally and theologically?

Juneteenth is where memory meets movement. It’s Exodus. It’s Luke 4. It’s Resurrection. It reminds me that God is always on the side of the oppressed.

How does storytelling preserve and advance Juneteenth’s legacy?

Storytelling resists erasure. It’s how we remember, how we fight, and how we build a world where no one is unseen or unfree.

Pryor brings voice to a legacy of liberation. Her ministry lifts up Black women and girls through sacred storytelling and radical belonging—keeping Juneteenth’s spirit alive in every act of nurture and resistance

Rev. Dr. Anthony Everett’s ministry stands at the intersection of faith, liberation, and community transformation. A proud graduate of Perkins School of Theology, Dr. Everett now leads the Siloam Project at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, advancing contextual theological education and advocating for returning citizens.

Tell us about your current role and the work you are doing.

As Executive Director of Mission Behind Bars and Beyond in Kentucky, I help support returning citizens as they transition from incarceration to community. Our ministry offers mentoring, spiritual guidance, and connection to local churches.

What inspired you to pursue ministry and theological education? I was drawn to ministry through a deep desire to serve the marginalized. At Perkins, I found the theological grounding and community support to shape that call into action.

How does your work reflect your theological commitments?

Our work centers on human dignity and liberation. We walk alongside those whom society often forgets, affirming their worth and advocating for systems change.

What does Juneteenth mean to you?

Juneteenth reminds me that freedom must be full—not just symbolic. You can’t celebrate emancipation and ignore mass incarceration.

What legacy do you hope to leave?

I want to be remembered as someone who used ministry to free people—spiritually, socially, and systemically.

Rev. Dr. Everett’s work illustrates how liberation is both theological and tangible. By walking with returning citizens, he embodies a Gospel rooted in freedom, healing, and restoration.