A.R. Bernard
Encyclopedia
A. R. Bernard is the Founder, Senior Pastor and CEO of Christian Cultural Center
(CCC) located in Brooklyn, New York, United States. CCC is a ministry and not-for-profit 501c(3) organization, that currently has over 33,000+ members and sits on an 11-acre (45,000 m2) campus.
He is also the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York representing 1.5 million Protestants, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians and sits on the NYC Economic Development Corporation Board; NYC School Chancellor’s Advisory Cabinet and served on Mayor Michael Bloomberg
’s 2001 Transition Team.
, Bernard settled in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn with his mother at the age of four. As part of the 1960s desegregation movement in the public school system, he was bused to school in Ridgewood, Queens and then attended Grover Cleveland High School. Bernard worked after school in the garment district pushing racks for $2.00 per hour to assist his mother in their single parent household. He landed a clerk position with Bankers Trust Company during his senior year of high school. Bernard earned a number of promotions leading to a position as Operations Specialist in the Consumer Lending Division.
section of Brooklyn. Later that year Household of Faith Ministries was incorporated. In 1988, Household of Faith purchased and renovated an abandoned Brooklyn supermarket into a 1000 seat sanctuary, complete with administrative offices and a bookstore. Household of Faith was renamed Christian Life Center and formally moved into its new property in June 1989 with a membership of 625.
was purchased and construction followed immediately. On December 31, 2000, under the leadership of Bernard, Christian Cultural Center took its new name and moved into its new home. The 6.5-acre (26,000 m2) sanctuary and conference center also includes a chapel, bookstore and state of the art youth center. Christian Cultural Center is one of the largest independent churches in the tri-state area, exemplifies a new paradigm in the worship experience. Bernard remains a highly sought after speaker, teacher and community leader. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally addressing religious organizations, businessmen and political dignitaries.
Future expansion and development is anticipated on a 4.5-acre (18,000 m2) of land adjacent to the current CCC campus.
in New York City
and Cultural Arts Academy Charter School. Formed in 1993, BPS is a premiere early education institution dedicated to serving young children, ages 3–6. Their June 1999 first grade graduates ranked 91st in the national percentile in reading and 96th in the national percentile in mathematics.
Member, Board of Directors for the NYC Economic Development Corporation
Member, Chancellor's cabinet of the New York City Department of Education
Commission of Religious Leaders: CORL – a think tank composed of the head of the New York Board of Rabbis, head of the New York Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, and the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York
Religious Advisory Council of the New York Police Department under Commissioner Raymond Kelly
Served as Member of the NYC Police Department Advisory Board of Courtesy Professionalism and Respect under Commissioner Howard Safir
Served as Chaplain to the Division of Law Enforcement of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Police
Served as a Board Member for the Brooklyn Public Library
Chairperson for the Billy Graham Final Crusade
In 1993, Bernard founded Brooklyn Preparatory School, a premiere early childhood education institution. He continues to revitalize communities; recently partnering with Common Ground to build and develop affordable housing in the East New York/Canarsie section of Brooklyn and leading a transformational team to purchase one of the nation’s largest Mitchell Lama Programs (Starrett City, Brooklyn, NY).
In addition to establishing Christian Cultural Center's Food Assistance Program, Prison Ministry, Domestic Violence Initiative and Family Life Center, Bernard organized a rapidly growing male mentoring program with more than 1000 male mentors.
A. R. Bernard has degrees in the following:
M.A., Divinity, Alliance Theological Seminary
B.A./M.A., Urban Studies, Alliance Theological Seminary
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Wagner College
Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Nyack College/Alliance Theological Seminary
Magazine, The New York Times
, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, Black Enterprise
, Essence
, Class Magazine, Charisma
and a host of other newspapers and magazines.
He has also appeared on Fox News Channel
, NBC's Today, MSNBC
, CBS News
, BET
, The 700 Club
, TBN's Praise the Lord, Tony Brown's Journal
as well as various national and local news programs.
Crain’s Business Publication, 2008 25 Leaders Reshaping New York
New York Daily News, 2008, 2007, Most Influential Clergy
New York Post 2008 Most Influential African-American New Yorker
New York Daily News, 2008, 2007, Top 30 Most Influential Black New Yorker
New York Post 2007, Top 30 Most Influential Black New Yorker
Consulate General of Israel in New York 2007, Lifetime Achievement Award
New York Magazine, 2006 One of the City’s Most Influential New Yorkers
Television. Bernard's radio broadcasts can be heard nationwide on Salem Communication stations, on FamilyNet Radio SIRIUS Channel 161, and locally within New York’s tri-state area on WMCA, WLIB and WBLS.
Christian Cultural Center
The Christian Cultural Center is a non-denominational Christian megachurch located in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York City. Founded in 1979 by Dr.A.R. Bernard, The facility sits on an campus and the church claims over 29,000 members. Christian Cultural Center is the largest...
(CCC) located in Brooklyn, New York, United States. CCC is a ministry and not-for-profit 501c(3) organization, that currently has over 33,000+ members and sits on an 11-acre (45,000 m2) campus.
He is also the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York representing 1.5 million Protestants, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians and sits on the NYC Economic Development Corporation Board; NYC School Chancellor’s Advisory Cabinet and served on Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
’s 2001 Transition Team.
Biography
Born in PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Bernard settled in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn with his mother at the age of four. As part of the 1960s desegregation movement in the public school system, he was bused to school in Ridgewood, Queens and then attended Grover Cleveland High School. Bernard worked after school in the garment district pushing racks for $2.00 per hour to assist his mother in their single parent household. He landed a clerk position with Bankers Trust Company during his senior year of high school. Bernard earned a number of promotions leading to a position as Operations Specialist in the Consumer Lending Division.
Establishment of Church
Prior to becoming a Born Again Christian in January 1975, Bernard was a Muslim. He and his wife, Karen started a Bible Study in the kitchen of their Brooklyn railroad apartment. Bernard left his 10-year banking career in 1979 to go into ministry full time. As the bible study group grew, so did the need for a facility. The Bernard's took their savings and rented a small storefront in the GreenpointGreenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bordered on the southwest by Williamsburg at the Bushwick inlet, on the southeast by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and East Williamsburg, on the north by Newtown Creek and Long Island City, Queens at the...
section of Brooklyn. Later that year Household of Faith Ministries was incorporated. In 1988, Household of Faith purchased and renovated an abandoned Brooklyn supermarket into a 1000 seat sanctuary, complete with administrative offices and a bookstore. Household of Faith was renamed Christian Life Center and formally moved into its new property in June 1989 with a membership of 625.
Further growth
As Christian Life Center began experiencing exponential growth - four Sunday services, lines forming at 4:00am, and overflow rooms filled to capacity, the ministry was quickly outgrowing its home on Linden Boulevard. The need for a larger facility was evident and in 1995 a vacant lot adjacent to Starrett CityStarrett City, Brooklyn
Starrett City is a housing development in Brooklyn, New York City. Starrett City opened in 1974, and in 2002, changed its name to the Spring Creek Towers. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 5. Starrett City is patrolled by the NYPD's 75th Precinct.The Starrett City site spanned...
was purchased and construction followed immediately. On December 31, 2000, under the leadership of Bernard, Christian Cultural Center took its new name and moved into its new home. The 6.5-acre (26,000 m2) sanctuary and conference center also includes a chapel, bookstore and state of the art youth center. Christian Cultural Center is one of the largest independent churches in the tri-state area, exemplifies a new paradigm in the worship experience. Bernard remains a highly sought after speaker, teacher and community leader. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally addressing religious organizations, businessmen and political dignitaries.
Future expansion and development is anticipated on a 4.5-acre (18,000 m2) of land adjacent to the current CCC campus.
Outreach programs
Outreach programs under his leadership include a food pantry serving the community, a Prison Ministry, and various city organizations including the New York Police Department's orientation.The Bookstore
Cornerstone Book & Gift, which began as a single table operation in the storefront, is now a half a million dollar per year business, serving church members and ministries both locally and internationally. It is a provider of bibles, books, recordings, videos and gifts and is among the larger Christian Bookstores in New York.International Christian Brotherhood
In 1990 while the ministry continued to grow, Bernard was asked to serve on the Board of Directors for the Christian Men’s Network (CMN) to help restructure the organization. During his six years on the board, CMN grew to an organization with 74 international offices and with a presence in approximately 150 nations. In addition to serving as Treasurer for the board, Bernard was one of their most requested speakers. With the passing of Dr. Edwin Louis Cole in 2002 he became the President of CMN. Under his leadership, CMN has been reborn as ICB, International Christian Brotherhood.Involvement in education
Bernard is also the founder of Brooklyn Preparatory SchoolBrooklyn Preparatory School
-History:Brooklyn Prep was a highly selective Jesuit preparatory school founded by the Society of Jesus in 1908. The school educated generations of young men from throughout New York City and Long Island until its untimely closure in 1972.The Prep was located on 1150 Carroll Street in the Crown...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Cultural Arts Academy Charter School. Formed in 1993, BPS is a premiere early education institution dedicated to serving young children, ages 3–6. Their June 1999 first grade graduates ranked 91st in the national percentile in reading and 96th in the national percentile in mathematics.
Appointments, Accomplishments & Achievements
A. R. Bernard Sr. is the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York representing 1.5 million Protestants, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians.Member, Board of Directors for the NYC Economic Development Corporation
Member, Chancellor's cabinet of the New York City Department of Education
Commission of Religious Leaders: CORL – a think tank composed of the head of the New York Board of Rabbis, head of the New York Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, and the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York
Religious Advisory Council of the New York Police Department under Commissioner Raymond Kelly
Served as Member of the NYC Police Department Advisory Board of Courtesy Professionalism and Respect under Commissioner Howard Safir
Served as Chaplain to the Division of Law Enforcement of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Police
Served as a Board Member for the Brooklyn Public Library
Chairperson for the Billy Graham Final Crusade
In 1993, Bernard founded Brooklyn Preparatory School, a premiere early childhood education institution. He continues to revitalize communities; recently partnering with Common Ground to build and develop affordable housing in the East New York/Canarsie section of Brooklyn and leading a transformational team to purchase one of the nation’s largest Mitchell Lama Programs (Starrett City, Brooklyn, NY).
In addition to establishing Christian Cultural Center's Food Assistance Program, Prison Ministry, Domestic Violence Initiative and Family Life Center, Bernard organized a rapidly growing male mentoring program with more than 1000 male mentors.
A. R. Bernard has degrees in the following:
M.A., Divinity, Alliance Theological Seminary
B.A./M.A., Urban Studies, Alliance Theological Seminary
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Wagner College
Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Nyack College/Alliance Theological Seminary
Media coverage
Bernard has been featured in New YorkNew York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
Magazine, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, Black Enterprise
Black Enterprise
Black Enterprise is a monthly U.S. magazine which describes itself as "the premier business news and investment resource for African Americans" and claims a readership of 3.7 million. It was founded in 1970 by Earl G. Graves, Sr.. The publication is known for its annual listing of the largest...
, Essence
Essence (magazine)
Essence is a monthly magazine for African-American women between the ages of 18 and 49. The magazine covers fashion, lifestyle and beauty with an intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone.-History:...
, Class Magazine, Charisma
Charisma (magazine)
Charisma is a monthly Christian magazine based in Lake Mary, Florida, aimed at Pentecostals and charismatics...
and a host of other newspapers and magazines.
He has also appeared on Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
, NBC's Today, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
, The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
, TBN's Praise the Lord, Tony Brown's Journal
Tony Brown's Journal
Tony Brown's Journal is a PBS American talk show hosted by conservative journalist Tony Brown.-Overview:Television talk show series featuring interviews with contemporary newsmakers of special interest to the African American community....
as well as various national and local news programs.
Honors & Awards
The Ebony Power 100, Ebony Magazine, December 2010/January 2011Crain’s Business Publication, 2008 25 Leaders Reshaping New York
New York Daily News, 2008, 2007, Most Influential Clergy
New York Post 2008 Most Influential African-American New Yorker
New York Daily News, 2008, 2007, Top 30 Most Influential Black New Yorker
New York Post 2007, Top 30 Most Influential Black New Yorker
Consulate General of Israel in New York 2007, Lifetime Achievement Award
New York Magazine, 2006 One of the City’s Most Influential New Yorkers
A. R. Bernard Broadcasts
Bernard is the host of two weekly television broadcasts. Faith In Practice and A. R. Bernard - airing nationally on TBN, TV One, and FamilyNetFamilyNet
FamilyNet is a broadcast television network owned by ComStar Media Fund and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network, and took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell. The channel was acquired by InTouch Ministries in...
Television. Bernard's radio broadcasts can be heard nationwide on Salem Communication stations, on FamilyNet Radio SIRIUS Channel 161, and locally within New York’s tri-state area on WMCA, WLIB and WBLS.