Jennifer Watley Maxell is a minister, educator, church co-founder, life coach and motivational Speaker known for her interactive teaching and creative communication style. She has a passion for making the complex, simple as she speaks truth to people in ways they can understand and apply to their everyday lives.

With the blessings of Bishop William P. DeVeaux, Presiding Prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District of the AME Church, Jennifer Watley Maxell and her husband the Rev. Charles A. Maxell, Jr. founded The Breakthrough Fellowship, a new church initiative located in Cobb Country, GA. Since its days as a bible study in the Maxell home, The Breakthrough Fellowship has had a simple vision: All about God. All about People.

In addition to the ecclesiastical ministry, Jennifer is an accomplished teacher, facilitator and administrator, who uses her pedagogical expertise to engage clergy, laity, business professionals, students and youth in worship and learning experiences that are hands-on and practical. Her unique approach allows people to engage their faith in innovative ways leading to new and dynamic understandings of their relationships with God, themselves and others. By encouraging people to “take the plastic off the Bible”, Jennifer delights in helping broken people find wholeness through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

A child of the manse, Jennifer is the daughter of the Rev. Dr. William D. Watley, who is the Senior Pastor of Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia and Mrs. Muriel Lewis Watley. Jennifer was licensed to preach in May 2012, and is seeking ordination as Itinerant Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.).

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Howard University, and her Master of Divinity degree from Emory’s Candler School of Theology with Certificates in Black Church Studies and Religious Education. While at Candler, she was selected by the homiletic faculty to be a featured preacher in the historic Canon Chapel.

Born in Atlanta, GA and raised in New Jersey, Jennifer currently resides in Smyrna, GA with her husband, Charles and their three children, Madison, Charles III, and Skylar.