Rev. Dr. John R. Faison, Sr.

Senior Pastor, Watson Grove Baptist Church

John R. Faison, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church (The Grove), a growing, multigenerational, multisite church with campuses in Nashville, TN and Franklin, TN. The Grove endeavors to be “A GROWING church for GROWING people whom Christ will use in GROWING His Kingdom.”

A native of Boykins, Virginia, Pastor Faison holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, a Master of Arts in Practical Theology from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and a Doctor of Ministry from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Pastor Faison became the Senior Pastor of The Grove in March 2012. Since that time, his leadership has resulted in substantial spiritual and numerical growth, as thousands of new members have been added to the ministry. Pastor Faison’s innovative approach has led The Grove to become a go-to resource of encouragement and empowerment both locally and nationally. Every week five generations are impacted by the innovative ministry that emanates from the Nashville, Franklin, and global campuses.

Pastor Faison is a highly sought-after communicator of the Gospel. Young and seasoned alike have been blessed by his message of allegiance and authenticity, as well as his willingness to deal with relevant issues. Pastor Faison’s dexterity with different audiences stems from his broad spectrum of experiences. In addition to his 27 years of ministerial experience, he is also a decorated veteran, having served as an US Army officer for eight years. Pastor Faison is a recognized voice at events throughout the country, including the Clinton Global Initiative, the Samuel D. Proctor Conference, NAACP Leadership 500, the Word Network, and universities throughout the nation. In 2023, he was inducted into the prestigious Morehouse College MLK Chapel Board of Preachers and selected to serve as the Noonday Preacher for the Hampton University Ministers Conference.

Pastor Faison is blessed with influence that extends beyond the local church. Pastor Faison is the CEO of the John Faison Leadership Group, providing executive coaching and consulting to pastors and business leaders. He is a passionate advocate for community transformation and development, as seen in his work as an HIV/AIDS National Ambassador with the NAACP, mentor in public school districts, and advisor to several community organizations. His work has been featured in several publications including The Tennessean, TheGrio.com, The Associated Press, USA Today, and Christianity Today. In Nashville, he served as Co-Chair of Imagine Nashville, a citywide, community-led, bipartisan effort that resulted in a community vision for Nashville’s next 30 years. Additionally, he serves on the Boards of Trustees at Belmont University and Leadership Nashville. Committed to theological formation, Pastor Faison currently serves as a doctoral mentor and adjunct professor at Samuel D. Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Fraternally, he is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Boule).

Pastor Faison is married to Dr. Maya M. Faison (Bugg). He is the proud father of three biological children (John, Jr., Ajah, Jaden), and three bonus daughters (Adderley, Ellington, & Morgan).