Meet C. Montez Jones | Senior Pastor & Influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with C. Montez Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi C. Montez, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was always told, “The church is like a hospital.” A hospital is where you are taken when trauma has taken place and there is hope for recovery. What I observed however, was people coming into churches week after week leaving in the same shape or worse than how they came. I did some massive self reflection and spent time with my observations. If the church was this metaphoric hospital and the people I saw coming consistently weren’t getting any better, then the church was more appropriately a hospice. The hospital is where you are taken when there is hope for recovery but the hospice is where you are sent when nothing else can be done for you so you are made comfortable because death is close. So in prayer one day, I had a conversation with Spirit. I said “If the church is supposed to be like a hospital but what I’m observing is more like hospice, there’s got to be a median.” Almost simultaneously, I heard the word REHAB! A place that can help me get my life back to the place it was in before trauma happened.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Well, I’ve always had a love and enthusiasm for the institution of church. Before I even knew that I was in church, my grandmother had me in church. I love the music, the expressive art of preaching, the emotional releases, the fellowship and the fried chicken afterwards lol! In my playtime at home, I had church. On Halloween, I wanted to dress as my pastor. At Career Day at school, I dressed as a pastor. So I’ve always wanted to lead and be a representative and extension of the institution of church that I had grown to love so much. HOWEVER, loving church and knowing God are 2 very different things. I was in my early 20’s when I finally came to the mature resolve that my fellowship with my church was relative yet not totally reflective to my relationship with God. So the challenge that I’ve had over the years to make my church stand apart from most, is creating a safe place where anybody can come to engage in the functions of the institution but most importantly gain an understanding, appreciation, love and dedication to God….NOT JUST CHURCH…but God! Sadly, so many people are only exposed to the God that they hear about at church. This gives them a terrible disadvantage outside of the brick and mortar because without knowledge and comprehension of God and the Fruits of His Spirit, they are left without the necessary tools to make healthy and wholesome decisions to secure positive change and progression in their life. This will secure for them feelings of “victory” for as long as they are in and around the institution, but there is an entire world that they must show up in everyday. So, I’ve desperately attempted to foster an environment so that the members of my church could firstly unlearn some things that may have translated inappropriately according to inaccurate teachings and then to infuse them with tools, resources and language to live their lives absent of false narratives impressed upon them using the word of God.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ah man….lol! I’m really a home body. Get me some wings and fried rice and a good book or my PS5 and I’m SET! LOL! But there is a black owned spot in the city called Roc South. They are AMAZING! I would take my friends there for some home style cooking and drinks. Spice House is another vibe of good energy and delicious food! After dinner, CineBistro is a dope atmosphere to recline and watch a good movie. For some shopping, my preference is Phipps Plaza. (The VIP perks are dope). Atlantic Station shops and eateries are always a vibe in my opinion. The kid in me still subscribes to amusement parks like Six Flags and Top Golf so we’d definitely visit those places. Lastly, of course we would fellowship in worship at The REHAB Cathedral of Atlanta!!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My journey and trajectory has been and remains navigated by Spirit. Along the way, I have been influenced greatly by futuristic minds and voices like Bishop Dennis Meredith, Bishop Carlton Pearson, Apostle Matthew Stevenson and Dr. Todd M. Hall Sr. In addition, just as a child given to a parent becomes a teacher for that parent; each individual that has connected to me as a disciple of my teachings has expanded my capacity to learn, evolve, expand and to continue.

Website: www.therehabcathedralatl.org

Instagram: @therehabcathedral

Facebook: @therehabcathedral

Youtube: @IAMREHABTV

Image Credits
Image Credit: Tory Brown @EliteMediaStudios