the Pastors for Punch TV Studios -host Joy Brown/Guest Pastor Najuma S. Pollard

Rev. Dr. Damali ‘Najuma’ Smith-Pollard, MBA, D.Min Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard is a Pastor, Inspirational Speaker, Author, Success Coach, Radio Personality and Activist. Through her pastoral assignments and Word of Encouragement Ministries, she shares the good news of the Gospel with parishioners, the community at large and internationally, and has been working in ministry for over 17 years. In 1996 she accepted her call to ministry. Dr. Najuma says, “going into ministry was just the next level of service for me.” Dr. Najuma was ordained as a Deacon in 1996 and as an Itinerant Elder in 2000. Since that time, she has served as Assistant Pastor and Pastor of Family Ministries at Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine, California; Pastor of A.K. Quinn AME Church in Moreno Valley, California; Pastor of St. James AME Church, in Los Angeles, California and in 2014 launched Word of Encouragement Community Church, in Los Angeles, Ca. (WOECC.ORG) Dr. Najuma is a frequent speaker at churches and conferences, and welcomes the opportunity to share her gifts, time and talent with ministries abroad and secular events. Following after her passion to serve others, Dr. Najuma trained with the John Maxwell Group and later founded her company Living on Assignment, LLC, a Coaching and Consulting Firm that serves to help people move from Setback to Success. Dr. Najuma believes in the principle of an abundant life; and this belief fuels her passion to see people live rich meaningful lives; and enjoys sharing the principles and practice of an abundant life. In addition, Dr. Najuma is Program Manager for the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement at USC, and the Executive Director for the Southern California School of Ministry. She founded the Sexual Violence Awareness & Training campaign named “ItsNotOkay” [www.itsnotokay.org].