The Reverend George J. Barnes II, Pastor of the

Elevation Chapel AME Church

As a visionary, leader, innovator, intellectual, and servant, Pastor GJ Barnes is called to service. Pastor Barnes founded and currently pastors The Elevation Chapel AME Church in the booming city of Baltimore. He is called to build a church that is equipped to elevate people to God’s calling for their life. In October 2010, Elevation Chapel was founded at an elementary school in Baltimore, and after 17 months Immanuel Temple AME Church was merged with the church and moved into its own building.

Pastor Barnes is blessed to have served in numerous capacities relating to ministry, community service, wellness and corporate administration. His passion for entrepreneurship was realized at the age of 15 when he was accepted into the NAACPs Regional F. Lewis Youth Entrepreneurship Institute. He would gradate and go on to become one of the youngest successful African-American executives/entrepreneurs in the country.

All before the age of 30, his executive experience led his company to record-growth serving hundreds of thousands of people all over the United States. His executive leadership led to relationships and partnerships with companies such as General Motors and Capital One, federal government agencies such as the Department of Defense and NSA, and world-renowned educational institutions such as Harvard University and MIT. Pastor Barnes also saw a need for a cutting-edge learning organization and founded the EML Institute in 2012, alone with the ElevateMyLife Magazine.

In addition, he has authored the nationally selling book “The Growth Principle: How Ordinary People do Extraordinary Things” and has published many government reports, national articles and medical investigative reports.

Pastor Barnes has prepared academically with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a post-graduate assistantship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and completed master’s degree programs in theology from The Washington Theological Union Seminary, and in Social & Public Policy from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Although he is viewed by many as a founder, teacher, executive, friend and pastor, he is most proud to be a husband and father. He is married to the queenly Lady Junetta Barnes, who is known nationally on the Bravo TV show Thicker Than Water, and has three lovely children, Taja, Todd and Caleb. The Bottom Line: Pastor GJ Barnes Loves God and is humbled and honored to serve God’s children.