The Flemmings: Inspirational Power Couple

Timothy (Jr.) and Jackie Flemming are both well-established pastors, speakers, authors, and business owners.  They have been married for over 14 years and have developed together over this time. Co-Pastoring one of the largest churches within the Metro-Atlanta area as well as growing each of their businesses and careers over this period. The Duo both have thriving businesses, 3 children, and 2 churches in which they pastor. The Power Duo is currently teaching up-and-coming couples how to balance marriage, ministry, and family.  

Hustle and Soul Magazine got an exclusive interview with the Flemmings.

Tammy: Please tell us about your kingdom business?

Jackie: I have been online since 2014. On May 1st, 2021 I just opened the doors to my new boutique location in Marietta GA. Jackie’s Collection features unique clothing, custom wigs and hair bundles (100% virgin hair), and more. Visit www.JackiesCollection.com.

Timothy: My business name is T&J Publishers. We are a book publishing company specializing
in turning publishing dreams into reality. We provide affordable book publishing services to those looking to write and publish their books. From ghostwriting to editing to books cover and interior layout to book distribution, we do it all.

We also specialize in website designs and have begun to branch out into video content creation and online course creation. I started my company back in 2010. At first, everything was online, but now I’ve opened my office in Marietta, GA. The website is www.TandJPublishers.com for those looking to check us out.

Tammy: What inspired you both to become entrepreneurs?

Jackie: For me growing up in a low-income family and the projects seeing my family struggle
really hurt me. No need to ask for anything because our family couldn’t afford it. So many
families leave behind sickness, fear, depression but this put a fight in me to begin to learn how
to leave a generational blessing and not a generational curse. I wanted something to leave behind. I wanted to leave a legacy for my children.

Timothy: I turned my attention to entrepreneurship after a church service at my dad’s church.
That evening, there was a man of God ministering; his name was Prophet Joseph Hargo. That
night, he looked at me and said, “God said you need to get into the cash flow business. He
said you’re supposed to be a business owner. He wants to establish generational wealth in your household.”

Until then, I’d never given entrepreneurship a thought. I didn’t even know where to begin in the process. What business would I do? What do I have to offer? These and other questions inundated my mind. But the Holy Spirit began to lead me in the area of my calling in business when my wife came to me about writing a book God had laid on her heart.

Before that, I’d worked at my dad’s church and run the print shop there, producing a church magazine, bulletins, and even redesigning his book. I taught myself how to do graphic designs and was designing CD and DVD covers, doing interior layouts for the church magazine and bulletins, doing flyers, and more. So God was already priming me for my own business while serving at the church those many years. In 2009, I published my first book and then started my own publishing company the next year. I didn’t feel the need to go through another publisher for my book because I’d already learned how to design and publish books while working at the church.

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me again that I’d been writing and publishing books since high school, back when I was the editor of the school’s literary magazine where I had to write, edit, and publish books then for the school. It just made sense after a while that this was my gift, a part of my calling. After publishing my books and my wife’s books, the rest was history.

Tammy: Please tell us about your church that you both are Co-Pastors?

Jackie: Our church is a large mega church that focuses on helping the community in the heart
of Atlanta.

Timothy: Our church is Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. We are a nice-sized church, seating around 4,000. We’ve been blessed over the years. We are an anointed church, one of those rare Baptist churches you see where members speak in tongues and pastors operate in the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit (prophecy, word of knowledge, miracles, signs, and wonders, etc.). I usually trace this shift and transformation in our church back to the early to mid-90s when our pastor, Rev. Timothy Flemming, Sr., began traveling with televangelist Benny Hinn.

After that, we began to experience an explosion of God’s presence in our church like never before. Our church does a lot to impact the community, from community clean-up programs to programs designed to help and assist those in need to community restoration meetings with city officials to carnivals and more.

Tammy: How do you incorporate business with your ministry?

Jackie: I call it marketplace ministry! Where it doesn’t matter where you go or what you do you
just take God with you. Shine your light for Jesus in the educational system, business, government, arts and entertainment, and ministry.

Timothy: To me, business and ministry operate according to the same principles. It’s all about serving God and His Kingdom using whatever gifts, talents, and tools He’s given us to bring glory to His name and point men in His direction. I don’t believe in the fragmented approach where people compartmentalize faith and their personal lives, telling God he can have Sunday mornings while giving Monday through Saturday to “the world”. I believe every day belongs to God and everything we do in life should be for the purpose of serving God and fulfilling his will for our lives.

Like the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” With that being said, my company is also my ministry. I am in the “ministry” of helping people with a voice and a positive message put that message in book form and then promote it to the masses. For me, business is about helping people, serving others using the gifts God has given me. But the Bible also talks a lot about business ethics.

For example, “the workman is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18), “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, and “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). So God doesn’t intend for you to be broke and let others use you. Business principles come from the Bible. God had to teach me how to take my passion and monetize it so that I could be in a position to be a blessing to others and still take care of my family.

Tammy: What are some of your best practices when it comes to balancing family and career?

Jackie: The best practice when it comes to balancing family and career is saying no.

Timothy: When it comes to balancing family and career, it’s important to prioritize. I’ve shared my testimony regarding this with others, how earlier in my career in the ministry I wasn’t balancing my time. I taught four different Bible studies, one each night of the week except for Wednesdays (I’d teach Midweek Bible Study some Wednesdays, but not always; however, I’d co-facilitate 5 am Prayer on Wednesdays with my wife) and preached every Sunday at one of our two locations. On top of my evening Bible Studies, I worked full-time at the church during the day from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm daily as the Administrator and Graphic Artist. Some days, I
literally didn’t see the light of day – I was in a building all day. But for the sake of my kids who
were very little at that time, I gave up every Bible Study except for Mondays (the Men’s Ministry).

Also, I took Wednesdays and made it a family day. We established a rule in our house: Every Wednesday, we had to leave the house as a family and go somewhere. We’d hang out all around town: Fernbank, The Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, Piedmont Park, the movies, the kid’s museum downtown, the mall, etc. And then, on weekends (Fridays in particular), we’d stop by The CookOut and load up on hamburgers, fries, and sodas and then head over to the Starlight Drive-in Movie Theater.

On Thursdays during the summer, I’d rush home after work, gather the family up, and we’d head to Centennial Park for the Screen on the Green (where the city showed classic movies on a jumbo screen in the park). I realized that investing my time into the lives of my kids, especially while they were little, was more important than being in church all day, which, according to 1 Corinthians 7, isn’t God’s will anyway. My home is my first ministry. So, to balance family and career, you have to prioritize things and choose to make sacrifices.

Tammy: What are some obstacles that you had to overcome that made your relationship stronger?

Jackie: Learning how to love and forgive!

Timothy: The biggest obstacle my wife and I faced when we first got married was the financial
hurdle. We were struggling financially just to take care of the basics. We’d find ourselves
searching through the sofas and under car seats just for loose change just to buy gas and
groceries with. And we lived like this all while encouraging others in their times of need and
hardship. But those early struggles changed us in many ways for the better. They produced
grit, determination, and character on the inside of us.

We learned to trust God and tap into the gifts He placed inside of us that would eventually create a blessed life for us. Most of all, during those times, we learned to invest in each other. Sometimes, people want to invest in others in hopes of changing their circumstances, not realizing the one or ones we should be investing into the most are the ones right under our noses. And to think, my wife has a natural gift of marketing and I have a gift of writing and producing. Perfect match. I produce it, she markets it.

We didn’t discover these things about each other until in a really tough spot. Aside from this, we still have challenges. We always will be two human beings from different walks of life. But what keeps us grounded the most is our individual relationships with the Holy Spirit. He knows how to send the help we need when we’re in a rough place.

Tammy: What are you currently working on?

Jackie: Writing another book.

Timothy: I am currently building my business (T&J Publishers, LLC) and also developing my other business, The Launch Pad, which is a branding agency specializing in video content creation, online course creation, content writing, and brand design. After that, I have several more businesses on the inside of me that I have to produce. God has given me a big vision and I intend to live it out. Oh, and I have several books I’m currently working on as well.

Tammy: What do you love most about each other?

Jackie: Our differences.

Timothy: I love that my wife has been a support system for me throughout the years. She
stood there with me from the beginning, holding it down and doing the best she could while we were struggling like crazy. She never lost her faith in God and “abandoned ship”. She stayed there, toiling with me, remaining consistent with the vision and dream God gave me to produce video content and brand the both of us. And she’s goofy. I have a million and two stories about that, but that’s another story.

Tammy: For those who may aspire to work with their spouse what advice would you give to them?

Timothy: To be honest, sit down and develop a strong sense of respect and friendship first.
This is critically important. Respect one another’s differences rather than trying to transform
one another into carbon copies of yourselves. You’re different for a reason. Don’t criticize one
another and watch the words that come out of your mouths—they can have lasting
repercussions.

Lastly, don’t be afraid of counseling. It helps to have a trusty third-party who’s not family there to help the two of you work through your differences. That’s what advice I’d give.

For more information on the Flemmings please visit:
www.TimothyFlemmingJr.com

www.JackieFlemming.com.

www.TandJPublishers.com

Tammy Reese

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