Hidden Gems: Meet Brian Bradshaw of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Bradshaw

Hi Brian , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I came to the Nashville area from Memphis, TN in 2004 go to undergrad at Middle Tennessee State University. Right before coming to Nashville, I accepted my call to preach while in high school.  At MTSU, I majored in Mass Communications with a concentration in broadcast journalism. I studied broadcast journalism and did radio and television while in high school. In my mind, I was headed to a major news network to become a lead anchor. During my first year in college, I heard about a church (Mt. Zion Baptist Church) that was sending buses to colleges and universities and feeding students for free. I made sure to find out where the bus was picking up students and I got on the bus to Mt. Zion and I have been there ever since. Shortly after a few visits, I became a part of the college ministry. It was an eye-opening experience to be around other college students who were excited about their faith and able to participate in a ministry designed just for us.  Within my first year on campus, I began teaching bible studies on campus, hosting Mt. Zion at MTSU for college football game faith nights having them as the featured church and ministry, hosting on campus worship services, forums and joint services with other campus ministries. While at MTSU, I also joined other organizations with one being my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc, in 2006, where I served as Regional Chaplain. While at MTSU, I met my now wife, Tanesha (formerly Tharpe) Bradshaw who was pursuing a degree in Speech Pathology. In the early stages of our friendship, we discovered that she knew my mom, dad and brother, but had never seen me. She too lived in Memphis and often golfed as a golf course where my parents owned and operated the restaurant in the clubhouse. This is the same place that I worked at every week helping my parents. We began to talk about the friends we knew who golfed there and we discovered that she often golfed with my cousins whom I saw there all the time and her best friend who I knew, but our paths never once crossed while we were in Memphis. We like to share our story in telling others that God hid us from each other and didn’t allow us to meet until the right time. We were blown away that out of all those years of her golfing and me working in the same place she would come eat that our paths never crossed.  As we dated in college, we have done just about everything together serving in the college ministry together although she was a campus ministry leader before I came to MTSU, working together in Murfreesboro City Schools, and serving in ministries at the church together to this very day. While I was in school, I was still very connected to my home church and often going home in the summer to serve while I was on break. I was ordained by my home Pastor in 2008 under the leadership of Dr. Bill Adkins of Greater Imani Church and Christian Center, which was the same year I graduated from MTSU.  After graduating, Tanesha and I got married in August 2011 and begin planning for our future family. Two years later, I was appointed the College Pastor while simultaneously working in corporate America. One year later, we welcomed our daughter (Tatum) into the world.  As Tanesha and I were working to build a life for ourselves, I later began pursuing my Master of Divinity at Lipscomb University where I graduated in 2021.  Can you imagine the level of sacrifice that it took working to build a life for our family, working a full-time job, pursuing higher education, leading a college ministry that was serving every college and university in Nashville and the surrounding cities with seeing no less than 300 college students each Sunday plus producing ministry on each of those campuses? All that I was doing we saw as God preparing us for something greater. What kept me grounded in times of frustration, fatigue, burnout, wanting to give up, resistance and wondering if I would ever see the fruits of my labor was 1 Corinthians 10:31, which the latter portion reminded me that all I was doing was for the glory of God. Before graduating and during the pandemic, in 2020, we moved into our new home and the very next day my wife and I were on the way to the hospital to welcome our son (Brian) into the world. The following year in July 2021, I changed careers and went into full-time ministry at Mt. Zion and joined the team as an Associate Pastor of External Affairs and Ministerial Development. I believed that my entire journey and the providence of God led me to this moment of stepping into my purpose of full-time ministry. This was role was new for Mt. Zion and I was honored to accept it, after all Mt. Zion saw has watched me grow up in this ministry as an eighteen-year-old college student. While in corporate America, I was not able to use my broadcast journalism degree, but when I went into full-time ministry, God showed me that he has the power and ability to thread all of my experiences and expertise together. I can say that God has a way to taking all of your experiences bringing them together to create harmony serving a greater purpose than you could ever imagine. I know now that God will not allow anything to be wasted or go unused. I truly believe that I served (although not my motive) my way to where I am now. I started as a college student, became campus ministry president, served as the youngest Elder at Mt. Zion for quite some time and now I am an Associate Pastor at that same church. I am thankful for the trust that my Pastor, Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III placed in me. My wife and I have been married for 13 years and we have two amazing children, Tatum (10) and Brian (4).  We are pre-marital counselors who have been counseling and marrying couples for the past 7 years to help couples be the best they can be as they come together for a purpose greater than themselves. Currently, my wife works as a Senior Human Resources Ministry Partner where she is able to bridge both ministry and marketplace together.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

No, it has not been a smooth road getting to where I am now. One of the biggest juggling acts I had to do for years was while balancing a new wife, new baby and new home, I also had to juggle working full time in corporate America, pursuing my Master’s and serving as the College Pastor that was a full-time job in itself.  It was a lot to manage and touch everything every day. In the midst of that, I was also looking to see how I would be able to use my journalism degree while working in a field that I knew didn’t match my expertise. After some time, I settled in where I was knowing that it wasn’t my final destination, but I never knew when the opportunity would come for me to walk fully in my calling. While in corporate, on the job I was on for over ten years, I never decorated my office, because every day it was a reminder that I would not be there forever and that I would one day walk into my purpose. Although I never decorated the office, I knew I was on this job for a reason and I gained a lot of experiences, relationships and got once-in-lifetime opportunities that prepared me for where I am now. I know that my tenure in Corporate was preparation for where I was believing God would take me to, so I used it as training ground. After having our first child, Tanesha and I knew that we wanted a second child, but that road wasn’t as easy as we thought it would be. In our journey to expanding our family, we experienced two miscarriages along the way which caused a great deal of heartache and pain. We questioned ourselves, each other and challenged the notion as to if we would ever be able to conceive again based upon what the doctors were telling us. I will never forget the time we found out our second baby didn’t make it. It is a period that if etched in journey. After finding out our baby didn’t survive, we left the hospital and decided to go to the mall to walk around to get our minds off of the devastating news. I was trying to process how we would navigate this road for a second time while looking for any glimmer of hope. We ended up stopping in one of the stores and the young lady who helped us was pregnant. That alone felt like another blow to us. As we engaged in conversation and she shared her excitement about her pregnancy, we congratulated her and showed excitement while she had no idea, my wife was carrying a baby that would not be born. It was a difficult thing to show excitement to someone carrying life while my wife was carrying a child with no life. To witness the strength of my wife in that moment, revealed to me in real time her true power and resilience that brought me to tears and a greater to always respect honor and serve her as my wife.  As you can imagine a myriad of things plagued from questioning if God really saw us and all of the unspoken sacrifices serving and building a life together with the best intentions, if it was his desire and will for us to have more children and so much more. I remember the day the baby passed, and my wife was in the floor screaming in agony asking, “If God loved me, why is he allowing me to go through so much pain.” That was a day I will never forget. As a man of faith, the words and comfort I would share with someone else in that moment, escaped me and left me at a place of siting in this pain and agony hoping that it would make sense somehow.  At times we had those thoughts of ungratefulness and selfishness as we thought about the countless people who were just believing for one child. It felt as if we were truly alone in the process, and no one really cared but expected us to get over it throughout both miscarriages. We dealt with what so many others deal with to this day, which is being questioned as to when we were going to have another child, why is it taking so long, why haven’t you had another baby yet, don’t you want another child and the list goes on all the while we were navigating through our grief. For quite a while we went through the motions, but grace met us in our grief, and we decided to try again. The day our son was born, we initially thought that it would be an easy delivery, but that changed quickly for us. After he was delivered, my wife began bleeding profusely from multiple areas and the doctors for quite some time, they were unable to get a control of it. They were working diligently to stop it from every area. As she was laying there, I was sending pictures of our son to close family and friends while watching some of the doctors and nurses shake their heads while looking at my wife turning pale to the degree we did not know if she was going to survive. Thankfully they were able to stop the bleeding and was able to fully recover.

As I continue to reflect upon my journey, although I was a leader in various spaces and used to being in front of people of people speaking since elementary, one of my internal struggles after high school was embracing my voice. For me in high school, my voice opened the door for many opportunities in both radio and television that I fully embraced, but after high school and for years, I wasn’t prepared for my voice to be made fun of. I always got the jokes that I “sounded like a broadcaster.” I knew my voice was unique and knew that it was a part of my purpose. After all, I have a portfolio of and commercial reels of voiceovers, commercials, hosting radio shows, hosting television shows, and news anchoring. I found myself trying to change my voice in certain settings to blend in and not bring attention to myself and decrease the chances of someone pointing out that I “talked like a broadcaster”. This caused me to “lose my voice,” changing my sound to try to assimilate in settings, which as you can imagine also came with a lack of confidence to some degree.  I began to question myself, which caused a great deal of self-doubt and insecurity. Even in ministry there were some who would say as we engaged in conversation “I’ve always wondered if that was your real voice or if you were just doing that because you were in front of people.”  Persevering through the jokes, comments and opinions caused me to retreat for years until one day I made the decision to live in the affirmation what God gave me rather than allowing the opinions of a few to cause me to second guess myself and using my gift. That didn’t come with a great amount of internal work and the will to push beyond the critics. Today, I stand before people communicating information, speaking at conferences, preaching the gospel of Christ, still being involved in broadcast Journalism having fully embraced my unique voice and allowing it to work for me rather than against me. I learned that it is our uniqueness that sets us apart and when we embrace the gifts we have been given unapologetically, that’s when God opens doors you could never imagine.

As I look back over my journey and story that is still being written, I would not be where I am today without the support and encourage from my parents, Beverly and Spencer Bradshaw, my brother, Tony Bradshaw, my sister in-love Heidi Bradshaw, my wife Tanesha Bradshaw, my Pastor home church Pastor, and his wife Dr. Bill and Linda Adkins, Marion Douglas, RaDontae and Erika Ashford, my Pastor and his wife, Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III (Pastor and Mentor) and Dr. Stephaine Walker, my childhood friends Keith Tolliver and Andrea McLeod and three of the best friends a guy could have, Danny Bounds, Brian Ingram and Jeremy Simpson.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mt. Zion Baptist Church ?

My career has been a tapestry of experiences that converge on one central theme: making a positive impact on people’s lives.

As a broadcaster, my mission is to inform, inspire, and connect with audiences. I have had the privilege of sharing stories, delivering news, and providing content that not only entertains but also educates and empowers. Through my work, my mission is to create a platform where people can find both information and encouragement, helping them to navigate their daily lives with more confidence and understanding.

In my role as an Associate Pastor, I am dedicated to spiritual guidance, growth and community building. This position allows me to directly support individuals and families through their spiritual journeys. Whether it’s through sermons, counseling, or providing leadership, my goal is to foster a supportive and nurturing environment where people can grow in their faith and find solace in times of need and be successful in their ministry programing and services. I enjoy teaching and training church Ministerial and Pastoral teams, teaching and training on infrastructure and systems, administration and implementing strategies that aid in providing a great worship experience. I believe in the power of compassion and empathy, and I strive to embody these values in all my interactions.

As an Executive Director, my focus is on leadership and strategic development. I work to create and implement best leadership practices, systems and strategies and procedures that drive organizational success while ensuring that our goals align with the needs of the people we serve. Another facet of my role is External Affairs, working with local, national and international organizations creating partnerships that align with the mission and vision of the ministry that produces a positive impact on the community and those we touch around the world. This involves not only managing operations and resources effectively but also leading by example and cultivating a culture of integrity and collaboration. I am passionate about mentoring others, helping them to realize their potential and achieve their personal and professional goals.

As a consultant, my specialization lies in helping churches and organizations achieve their missions more effectively and sustainably. Over the years, I have honed a unique set of skills and insights that enable me to provide valuable guidance and support in various areas.

As a consultant, I focus on understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that each church or organization faces. I help organizations define clear, achievable goals and create actionable plans to reach them. This includes everything from refining their mission and vision statements to developing detailed operational strategies. By providing a roadmap for success, I enable churches and organizations to move forward with confidence and purpose. Another critical area of my expertise is leadership development. Strong, effective leadership is essential for any organization to thrive. I offer training and mentoring programs designed to equip leaders with the skills they need to inspire and guide their teams.

In addition to these core areas, I am passionate about fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability. The world is constantly changing, and it’s imperative for churches and organizations to remain relevant and responsive to their communities’ evolving needs. Ultimately, my role as a consultant is to be a trusted partner and advisor. I am committed to helping churches and organizations navigate their unique journeys, overcome obstacles, and achieve their full potential. By providing tailored, practical solutions, I aim to empower them to make a lasting, positive difference in the lives of the people they serve.

In all these roles, my commitment to helping people remains at the forefront. I am driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, whether it’s through the airwaves, in the church, or within an organization. My diverse experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective and a broad set of skills, all aimed at empowering others and contributing to their well-being.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?

One of my favorite childhood memories is living across the street from my best friend. Growing up, our homes were across the street from each other and this proximity turned our neighborhood into the ultimate playground. We spent countless hours outside, riding our bikes up and down the street, playing basketball in the back yard, going to basketball games at the YMCA, playing video games, going to church together and inventing our own games that only we understood. We had the ultimate set up to where even the kids who lived down the street and around the corner would always ask to come join us.

Just about every day, I would wake up excited to see what adventures the day would bring. We’d meet outside, and from there, it was like time stood still because we would play from morning to evening or as long as our parents would allow us. I think I ate dinner at my best friend’s house more than I did at my own. We built forts in our backyards, climbed trees, built cities out of Legos and went skating and swimming often

Our bond was like no other because we were not just friends; we were more like family. The comfort of knowing that my best friend was just across the street made every day feel special. We celebrated birthdays, holidays, and everyday moments together, creating a treasure trove of memories that I still cherish today.

Living across the street from my best friend taught me the value of close-knit relationships and the joy of simple, everyday experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.briankbradshaw.com
• Instagram: iambrianbradshaw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.bradshaw.71
• Twitter: thisisbradshaw
• Other: threads: iambrianbradshaw