Michael W. Waters is the founder and senior pastor of Joy Tabernacle AME Church in Dallas, Texas, one of the fastest-growing AME churches in the state. He also serves as the senior pastor of Agape Temple AME Church in Dallas. The two congregations work together as one body under one pastoral vision.

Waters also is an activist, speaker and author, most recently of the book "Stakes is High: Race, Faith and Hope for America." He also is a blogger for The Huffington Post.