TANISHA SPARKS MINISTRIES
Igniting the hearts and minds of people through the Word of God… with one Spark!
ABOUT REVEREND
DR. TANISHA SPARKS
Reverend Dr. Tanisha L. Sparks is a graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA where she earned her Doctor of Ministry degree in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation. She holds a Master of Divinity degree in Preaching and a Certificate in Black Church/Africana Studies from the American Baptist Seminary of the West and the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration degree in Leadership and Management, both obtained from Holy Names University, Oakland, CA.
In 2003, Dr. Sparks received her license to preach and was ordained in 2009 at Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, Oakland, CA. In 2014, she attained her denominational ordination by the American Baptist Churches, USA. She has held numerous ministerial positions throughout the Bay Area serving as Executive Pastor, Minister to Young Adults and College Aged Students, Young Adult Pastor, Youth Director, and Bible Study Instructor to Middle School and High School Students.
Dr. Sparks is the 2011 L. Doward McBain Preaching Prize recipient for Outstanding Senior Sermon and the 2012 J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Award recipient for Outstanding Ministry in the Black Church, both awarded by the American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, CA.
During Black History Month 2020, she was awarded a Congressional Recognition Award from Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17), Santa Clara, CA for her work, passion, commitment, and dedication to the African American church and community within the Bay Area.
In addition to serving as an Associate Minister at the historic Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland, CA, Dr. Sparks enjoys preaching and ministering at various churches throughout the Bay Area and the United States. During the spring term, you can find Dr. Sparks teaching an online course on Theology in Preaching at the Bay Area Academy for Responsible Preaching (BAARP) of the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple (LIAT), Oakland, CA.
Prior to the start of her current tenure, Dr. Sparks held several managerial and leadership positions at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University. During her tenure, she shared her spiritual gifts with the university community at-large as a guest preacher, and as a guest lecturer on topics such as African American Spirituality, Black Christology and African and African American Liberation Theology. Additionally, Dr. Sparks taught as an Adjunct Professor at the Pacific School of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA a course entitled, More Than Words: Preaching Through Art.
Because of her passion for faith, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, Dr. Sparks was appointed as an Inclusive Excellence Liaison to the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Santa Clara University; a Spiritual Advisor to the Beloved Community African American Student Group and as a Mentor for the Finding Affirmation and Meaning Student Group, Office of Multicultural Learning, both at Santa Clara University.
Dr. Sparks unapologetically believes and accepts that God has called her to be a prophetic voice in this generation. As such, she exercises her calling through her work in higher education, mentorship of her students along with those in the preaching ministry, through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word across generational, denominational, and racial barriers and through community outreach.
VISION
At Tanisha Sparks Ministries, we are passionate about seeing lives transformed by the power of God's Word. Our ministry is founded on the belief that God has a purpose and plan for every person's life. We are committed to helping individuals discover that purpose and guiding them towards fulfilling it. Our vision is to see a generation rise up and boldly proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.
