UNITY FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES, INC.

Biographical Sketch, Dr. John H. Grant

Dr. John H. Grant is a native of Cross Hill, South Carolina, born the tenth of ten children to Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Grant, Sr. He was converted, baptized, licensed and ordained into the Gospel Ministry at a young age at the Bethel Baptist Church in Cross Hill. At the age of 19, he was called to pastor his home church and served there for seven years. He served as pastor of the Shoal Creek Baptist Church of Shelby, N.C. from 1980-1989.   He has served as pastor of the historic Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Asheville, N.C. since 1989, and the New Covenant Baptist Church of Shelby from 1999-2003.

In addition to his weekly preaching and teaching of the word of God, visiting, counseling and administrative duties, new disciples (members) have been added, trained, and baptized each year during his 22 year tenure in Asheville. He has also spearheaded capital campaigns and the founding of several area community-based non-profits, resulting in the raising of millions of dollars for church and community development projects.

THE MOUNT ZION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC. (“MZCD”):

From 1997 to 2003, Dr. Grant served, with no financial compensation, as Founding President & CEO of the Mount Zion Community Development, Incorporated (“MZCD”). For the last eight years, Mrs. Belinda K. Grant has served as full-time Executive Director of MZCD. With 4 staff positions, MZCD currently operates four programs: (1) Project Nurturing Asheville and Area Families (“NAF”)—“working to help African American women have healthy babies and reduce the minority infant mortality rate;” (2) Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (“TPPI”)—“working to reduce the rate of teen pregnancies:” (3) The Elizabeth Grant Hill Campus of Learners: Center for Health, Technology, and Entrepreneurship—“working to bridge the digital divide in our communities;” and (4) Real Estate Development for housing, office, retail—“working to provide economic opportunities and eliminate blight.” Since 1998, MZCD has raised and invested millions of dollars for its community projects, as well as provided part and full-time jobs with benefits. Project NAF has been cited in Asheville as a national model and showcased nationally. The Elizabeth Grant Hill Campus of Learners (currently inactive) was made possible by the generosity of Dr. Grant’s cousins—former NFL Great Calvin Hill and wife Janet; and current NBA Phoenix Suns Star Grant Hill and wife, R&B recording Star Tamia. Campus of Learners was cited as the “2001 Faith-Based Initiative of the Year” by the North Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations.

THE EAGLE/MARKET STREETS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION:

Dr. Grant served as the Founding President, Chairman & CEO of this Corporation with no financial compensation from 1994-1997. Being housed and anchored at the Mt. Zion Church for these years, he led the Corporation in securing funds for community-based, public-interest projects. Specifically, he led the corporation in: 1) securing its 501 (c) (3) IRS exemption status, 2) securing more than a quarter of a million dollars, 3) securing official recognition as a development partner with the City of Asheville, and 4) securing its first full time executive director.

Dr. Grant is founding President of the Unity Fellowship of Churches, Inc – Global (www.unityufc.org) and Vice President At large of the National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc. (www.savethefamilynow.com). In October, 2011, he led in organizing Asheville’s first chapter of the National Save the Family Now Movement, Incorporated whose purpose is to “save, strengthen and sustain the black family in particular and all families in general” with official Proclamations of Support from both the city of Asheville and county of Buncombe.

He also served the 500,000 member General Baptist State Convention for 25 years in 6 elected positions, the last of which was Vice-President At Large and Chairman of the General Board.

During October 2009 to September 2011, Dr. Grant and a development team, led by Ligon & Associates of Columbia, S.C., secured necessary funding to complete the Pre-development Phase – Feasibility Study for a 9+ million dollar 52 unit workforce housing mixed-use development project in the Eagle and Market Streets area adjacent to Mt. Zion Church. Next phases are the Financing Phase – through sale of Historic and Mill tax credits and finalizing of permanent loan (Oct. 2011 to Mar. 2012) and the Construction Phase – projected for April 2012 to March 2013.

Dr. Grant has been married to the love of his life, Belinda Kennedy Grant, for 32 years and they have two children, Kontia and John Jr, and one grandson, Koby Josiah. He holds degrees from Benedict College (B.A.) in Columbia, SC; Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (Master of Divinity) in Rochester, New York; and the Atlanta Theological Association (Doctor of Ministry) through Erskine Theological Seminary.

He is the recipient of many honors and awards including (1) Buncombe County’s “100 Most Influential People;” (2)“Minority Enterprise Week Minister of the Year;” (3)“Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition” for three years; (4) Martin Luther King, Jr. “Church of the Year” award for “reflecting the spiritual values of Dr. King’s stand for social and economic justice, the empowerment of others, and the sacrifice of time and resources to benefit the impoverished and disenfranchised of our community;” (5) City of Asheville Proclamations in 2003 and 2009 declaring “Dr. John H. Grant Day;” and (6) Recipient of the 2004 North Carolina NAACP Minister of the Year Award. He has traveled the state, nation and various parts of the world preaching, teaching and representing Jesus Christ his Savior and the Mt. Zion Church family and community for the glory of God and the good of humanity.

                                                                        (Last Update: January, 2012)