Today we’d like to introduce you to Javen Campbell.
Hi Javen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely. I was born in Palm Beach County and raised right here in Hollywood, Florida. I went to Colbert Elementary, McNicol Middle School, and graduated from Hallandale High School. After high school, I left home to attend college in Tennessee, and from there, my path led me to Los Angeles, California.
In LA, I built a thriving career in the entertainment industry — working in music, film, and ministry. For years, I traveled the world doing what I loved, but deep in my heart, I began to sense a strong call — a call to return home to South Florida and plant something that would make an eternal impact.
When I came back, I didn’t have a strategic plan, I didn’t have a network waiting, and honestly, I hadn’t lived here in over two decades. But what I did have was faith — and a vision to create a place that would embody what the word NOW stands for: No Opportunity Wasted.
The heart behind NOW Church and the NOW Organization was to build a ministry where everyone would be welcome — especially those who may have felt left out of traditional church experiences. We wanted a place of grace for the unchurched, the non-religious, and a spiritual home that would transcend racial and cultural barriers.
By God’s grace, we’ve seen that vision come to life. Over 10 years later, we’ve watched hundreds of lives transformed, families restored, and countless people step into their God-given purpose. Through our annual SummerSlam Sports Camp, food pantries and so much more, we’ve impacted thousands of young people across South Florida — giving them hope, mentorship, and a safe space to grow.
What started with faith and a simple yes to God has become a thriving movement — a church that champions community, purpose, and forward momentum. Because at NOW Church, we believe the best time to walk in your destiny is always right now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — it’s been filled with challenges every step of the way. South Florida is one of the most competitive and expensive real estate markets in the country, and when we started, we simply didn’t have the financial resources to purchase land or property. That meant we had to rely on sublease agreements, moving from location to location just to keep the vision alive.
There were seasons where it felt like every door was closing, and yet, somehow, God would always open another one. No matter how defeated we felt, we just kept going.
Another major challenge has been building and maintaining a loyal, committed team. In today’s culture, consistency and long-term dedication can be difficult to find, but we stayed focused on developing leaders — people who would not only serve but stand with us through the highs and lows.
Through it all, we’ve learned how to pivot, adapt, and keep faith at the center of everything we do. And now, after years of perseverance, we’re stepping into one of our greatest milestones yet — the opportunity to purchase our very first building. It’s been a journey of faith, resilience, and growth, and every obstacle has only strengthened our resolve to keep moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As an actor, tv host, author, speaker, and singer, my journey has been anything but one-dimensional — I’ve always felt called to express myself through multiple creative outlets. I’m an award-winning recording artist, and over the years I’ve also worked as a producer, actor, pastor, speaker, author, and TV host.
What’s really shaped my career is my desire to reach people from all walks of life. That universal appeal has opened incredible doors for me. I’ve had the privilege of sharing the stage with some of the greatest voices in gospel and inspirational music — artists like BeBe & CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, and Kenny Lattimore, among others. I also spent several years touring across the country with the Get Motivated organization, where I shared platforms with remarkable figures such as General Colin Powell, First Lady Laura Bush, Goldie Hawn, Zig Ziglar, and Les Brown.
My music has taken me all over the world — from Africa and Brazil to London, Indonesia, India, Israel, Canada, and beyond. Each experience has shaped my perspective and reinforced my mission: to inspire and uplift wherever I go.
Acting has also been a huge part of my journey. I’ve starred in stage productions like A Raisin in the Sun and The Rock and the Rabbi, and appeared in several films, including One Night with the King alongside Omar Sharif and Peter O’Toole, Abandoned with Brittany Murphy, Preacher’s Kid with LaToya Luckett and Tank,, The Engagement Plot. and most recently A Little Women’s Christmas were I played the son of icon Gladys Knight.
In 2014, I answered a different kind of calling — I founded Worship in the Now Ministries and NOW Church in South Florida. Through our ministry, we host programs like the Summer Slam Sports Camp, which reaches over 200 underprivileged youth each year. We partner with professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, and MLB to mentor kids from the foster care system and inner-city communities — teaching them sports like golf, tennis, and basketball, while also instilling life lessons, providing backpacks, school supplies, and personal care items.
While pastoring, I’ve continued to create and lead. I’ve written two books — One Hundred Keys for Your Right Now and Do It Now: Why Wait When Your Best Is Now — both designed to help people live with purpose and urgency. Musically, I released my 13th project, GRACE, which debuted at #6 on the Billboard Gospel Charts, and my singles “Love of My Life” and “Year of Yes” are currently gaining momentum on gospel radio.
I’ve been honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the White House and President Obama for my humanitarian work, which was a humbling recognition of the community efforts we’ve built through NOW Church.
Today, I continue to reach audiences through my TV show and podcast, NOW Living with JAVEN, and I’m also a frequent host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, where I’ve had the opportunity to inspire millions through television ministry.
I’m a proud graduate of Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with minors in Family Counseling and Theology. Every chapter of my journey — from entertainment to ministry — has been about one thing: helping people step into their purpose and live in their “NOW.”
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I wouldn’t call it luck — I’d call it favor. When you come from a blessed family, you begin to realize that many of the doors that open in your life aren’t just about talent or connections — they’re about God’s hand positioning you in the right place at the right time.
That’s been my story over and over again. There have been interviews and auditions that should’ve gone to someone else, but somehow, God made a way for me. I’ve built relationships that, years later, turned into business opportunities, platforms, and partnerships I could’ve never orchestrated on my own. I’ve watched people I once helped come back around and open doors for me — giving me opportunities to host, perform, and be part of incredible productions.
I’ll never forget one moment — I was on a plane, got bumped up to first class, and ended up sitting next to an ABC executive. That one divine appointment turned into a television opportunity. Stories like that have happened to me time and time again.
Even back in college, when I didn’t have enough money to pay for tuition, I just kept believing. I filled out every scholarship form I could find and went back week after week to the financial aid office, asking if anything had come through. Eventually, they gave me the remaining funds left over from other scholarships and grants — enough to cover my education for four years.
So, when I look back over my life, what I see is the consistent favor and blessing of God — opening doors, making a way, and reminding me that when you walk in faith, you’ll always end up right where you’re meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Javenonline.com
- Instagram: @Javenonline
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/javenonline
- Twitter: @javenonline
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/javenonline
- Soundcloud: javenonline
- Other: https://NowchurchfL.com
