bishop roy bryant sr., d.d. — biography
THE YOUNG SKEPTIC
It was on a September evening in 1956, when Roy Bryant, Sr. and his wife Sissieretta
climbed into their family car and drove to Long Island to an outdoor tent
meeting conducted by Jack Coe, a popular preacher of the time. Since he was
19, Roy Bryant, Sr. had suffered from arthritis of the back, which gave him
a stooped walk. The cruel condition had eaten the tissues of his lower back.
Despite medication, heat lamps, wrappings prescribed by his doctor, living
with this condition, as he would often say was a “hell on earth.” He was
33 years old.He arrived at the meeting skeptical of the healing power of
God. He sat in his seat, when all of sudden A POWER like lightening and electric
surge through him from the top of his head and down his spine. At that instant
he realized that he had been totally and irrevocably HEALED OF ALL PAIN AND
DISCOMFORT. From this moment on Roy Bryant, Sr. knew THE HEALING POWER OF
CHRIST.
Finally, his years of pain and suffering were over.
A HOLY BARGAIN
He went home and climbed an apple tree in his backyard. He recalled being raised
in the church as a boy and remembered the many people in need of healing
who came in the hope that the power of Jesus Christ would end their suffering — just
as his suffering had been ended. He realized now that he had an agreement
with God — since God had healed him, he would now GIVE HIS LIFE TO GOD.
On the first Sunday of January 1958, he received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Thereafter he began to preach Christ, bringing the power of his own experience — the healing power of the Lord — to the people in his community.
MORE BLESSINGS
Now Elder Bryant was again blessed. God would anoint Sissieretta with ability
to lovingly care for her children and be a helpmeet to her husband. There
would be tough times, but hearing God’s voice, she would find infinite strength
and she would forebear. No greater blessing could be found then this partner
who could help Roy Bryant, Sr. attend to his holy mission. They were married
on October 11, 1942. God would bless this union and Sissieretta would bear
six children: Eurnetha, Roy Jr., Larry, Allan (deceased) , Ruth, and Seth.
Two of their sons would enter the ministry, and their daughter Eurnetha would
become an accomplished organist.
THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE CUP
After two years preaching (as Elder Bryant), the creative force of God would
lead Roy Bryant, Sr. to his next lasting, holy achievement. Through repeated
revelations made to him, Elder Bryant saw himself preaching to the masses.
He would be deeply touched and moved by this Great Spirit entering his soul.
And like Paul, whether in the body or not, he knew not. He just knew that
HE WAS BEING MOVED BY THE GREATEST FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE. While in the spirit,
God would show Elder Bryant a beautiful white cup. Elder Bryant was reminded
of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane being offered a cup and saying: “Oh
my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not
as I will but as thou wilt.” Elder Bryant would repeat this same prayer before
yielding to God’s will. This same vision would be repeated again and again,
until finally, in 1961, he was moved to the founding of the Bible Church
of Christ. The first members of the church consisted of Elder Bryant, his
wife and their five children.
SEND THE SOULS IN!
At first Pastor Roy Bryant, Sr. was uncertain of his new role as God’s minister.
But God showed him his ministry. He found himself caught up on a high mountain.
People were in the valley below and there were snakes among them but — THE
PEOPLE WEREN’T AWARE OF THE SNAKES, the evil satanic forces which plagued
them. Now Pastor Roy Bryant, Sr. began to call the people up out of the valley
to come up the mountain, out of the corruption. And they came up and he immediately
felt them become part of his spirit. He now saw what God was showing him.
His ministry would be a MINISTRY OF DELIVERANCE where people bound by evil
satanic forces and possessed with demons would be set free from their bondage.
His life’s work for God now clearly defined and knowing he was ready, he
told God “SEND THE SOULS IN!”. But God told him, “No! You go out and get
them!” And Pastor Bryant did as God instructed him and went into the hedges
and byways to minister the Word of God.
A GROWING POWER
Now as these people came to him in his modest home, Pastor Bryant laid hands
on those doomed to die and they were healed. Many, many people received the
Baptism of the Holy Ghost and were miraculously healed of their sicknesses.
As word of these miracles spread, the home ministry grew and grew. People
flocked to their home where they could know Jesus Christ and find forgiveness
for their sins and be delivered from their demons. Finally, in 1966, after
years of preaching the Word of God, the Pastor was ordained a Bishop.
CHALLENGES, TRAGEDY, REBIRTH
In 1964, tragedy would strike. Bishop and Sissieretta’s young son Allan, at
age eleven would go to Lord as the result of an accident. No greater pain
could be imagined. But The Bishop and his wife and other children used the
healing power of the Lord to gain understanding in knowing that little Allan’s
journey had only ended on earth and would now continue in the heaven in which
he most deeply believed.
Then in 1969, settled in the original Morris Ave., Bronx, NY headquarters, this church would be consumed by fire. Again, The Bryants were asked to call upon the power of the Lord for strength and re-dedication to acquire a new church — and in just a year — nearby on Morris Ave. All great blessings come to those who give out great blessings. And so it is with Bishop Bryant. His strength has brought this great institution to our community and the world and so it endures today.
The Bible Church of Christ, Inc. is a healing and deliverance ministry that reaches out to souls all over the world every day under the inspired vision of Bishop Roy Bryant, Sr., D.D.
