Wayne has over two decades of executive leadership experience across corporate, non-profit, academic, and church environments—both locally and nationally. Entrepreneurial by nature, he and his wife, Classy, founded Authentic Church in 2010. In a bold and unifying move, Authentic Church recently merged with The Life Church, a vibrant multi-site, multi-national ministry based in Tennessee, founded by Senior Pastors John and Leslie Siebeling. Wayne now serves as the Lead Pastor of The Life Church’s New York location.

Entering midlife, Wayne experienced a season marked by depression and a sense of lost momentum. That difficult chapter became the catalyst for a new calling—helping others navigate the hidden seasons of life with purpose. This led to the founding of The King’s Cellar, an organization dedicated to equipping people to maximize every season of life for greater leadership, especially during times of darkness and obscurity.

Wayne is the co-author of God and Race: A Guide for Moving Beyond Black Fists and White Knuckles, published by HarperOne, and co-hosts the weekly podcast Leadership in Black and White. He serves as the chaplain for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and has a forthcoming book titled Make Friends With Everyone: Why Practicing the Lost Art of Friendship Will Bring You Closer to God.

Wayne lives in Westchester County, NY—a suburb of New York City—with his wife of 26 years, and their two daughters. He’s an avid cyclist, but what he’s most proud of is entering his fifties and still being able to drop it like it’s hot on any dance floor.