Tamara D. Pope
Affectionately known as “Coach Tam”
Some women teach the way, others lead the way, and then there’s Coach Tam who walks with women showing them the way. Coach Tam is an ordained associate pastor, published author, a board certified Christian counselor, and an advanced certified Christian coach who is committed to lifestyle evangelism. Her goal is demonstrating the message she shares through living the message she shares. She is known for her passion to empower, encourage, and equip women with the Word of God through her coaching, discipleship and lifestyle.
Coach Tam is the daughter of the late Pastor Emeritus Dr. Wilson and Lady Gladys Daniels. She is also the devoted wife of Rev. Dr. David M. Pope; the mother of Dante’ (Blaine), Aurielle, and Alyse; and the grandmother of three beautiful boys Judah, Zion, and Grant. As a Pastor’s daughter and wife, Coach Tam has been involved in various facets of ministry all of her life, and has always been drawn to those who were hurting, left out, or looked over. As a Pastor’s daughter she served at United Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of her father, as a choir member, choir president, junior nurse, assistant coordinator of Children’s Church, and overseer of the Mothers of Preschooler’s Ministry. As a Pastor’s wife Coach Tam served at Brotherly Love M.B. Church, under the leadership of her husband, as Minister of Operations, Women’s Ministry Overseer, Monthly outreach to the Joshua Center Women’s Shelter Overseer, Children’s Church Overseer, and a Christian Educator.
Meeting the needs of the hurting, left out, or looked over has always served as a driving force for Coach Tam and her husband, Rev. Dr. David M. Pope. To increase their ability to help people to a greater capacity, they launched Kingdom Seekers International Ministries. Kingdom Seekers was a nonprofit, para-church organization whose main goal was to provide people with a better quality of life. Through this organization, lives were impacted through the provision of resources, seminars, summer programs for the youth in collaboration with the City of Chicago Public Schools, work programs in collaboration with the state of Illinois, and economic development programs.
Kingdom Seekers International Ministries also served as home to My Time to Deal With It Weekly discipleship sessions. These sessions were the fruit of Coach Tam’s first book, My Time to Deal With It! Overcoming Strongholds, and provided a platform for men, women, boys, girls, families, those in shelters, prisons, and rehabilitation centers to overcome strongholds in a safe environment. After observing the work of the Holy Spirit through Coach Tam, witnessing the call on her life, and her personal acknowledgement, Rev. Dr. David M. Pope licensed Coach Tam as a Minister of the Gospel on July 27, 2008. After receiving her license, her work continued and the “My Girls & I” discipleship/mentoring sessions for girls ages 4-18 was birthed. These sessions were designed to bridge the generational gap between women and girls, and to provide a safe place for the women who were a part of the My Time to Deal With It! discipleship sessions to provide discipleship/mentorship. These monthly hangouts included one-on-one time for conversation, cooking lessons, and culminated with games.
After ten years of pastoring, Rev. Dr. David M. Pope and Coach Tam responded to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the cry of Dr. Pope’s family to return to Houston, Texas. With the desire to continue the work of ministry, The Kingdom Way Church was launched. Coach Tam served as Ministry Operations overseer and was responsible for the day to day oversight of ministry. As fellowship with various churches in the Houston area increased, requests for Rev. Dr. David M. Pope and Coach Tam to assist Pastors with the furthering of the mission and vision of their churches increased. Sensing this was the direction that the Holy Spirit was leading them in and with much prayer, they partnered with several churches to assist with clarifying and implementing vision, leadership development, youth ministry, and strengthening the ministry of prayer.
During this process, they joined and submitted their gifts at Greater Grace Houston under the Pastorate of Apostle EL Usher. Apostle Usher witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit, sensed the call on Coach Tam’s life, and on April 2, 2017 she was ordained as an Associate Pastor. While assisting at their local church in Houston, Texas, Coach Tam’s passion to walk alongside and lead women through life’s circumstances by way of the Word, and nurture healthy, God centered woman-to-woman relationships intensified. It was there that Coach Tam launched A Woman Worth Holding Onto Global. Through this ministry, Coach Tam has hosted sessions, prayer gatherings, and events to foster healthy God centered woman-to-woman relationships through empowering, encouraging, and equipping women to live authentically. These sessions provided the platform for leadership development and sessions to prepare other women to join Coach Tam in helping women. After the death of her brother on July 1, 2023, Coach Tam and her family returned to Chicago to care for her aging parents.
Currently, Coach Tam serves alongside her husband at Freedom Church Hillside under the Pastorate of Rev. Dr. Craig M. Smith. Her assignment is cultivating and developing the intercessory mindset of the Church; and, working alongside her husband in assisting with the Married Couples Ministry. Coach Tam also continues to impact the lives of women globally as she expands the ministry of A Woman Worth Holding Onto Global. Daily, her passion is experienced through venues such as:
The A Woman Worth Holding Onto Global Coaching and Discipleship Sessions,
Sunday Morning Manna,
Intimate Morning of Prayer,
Coaching Certification and Leadership Development Sessions; and,
Coach Tam Productions Podcasts.
Coach Tam has also written and published ten books, and has assisted several authors move their dream of writing and publishing their books from imagination to manifestation. She has spoken at many conferences, retreats, seminars, worship services, and corporate events. Her voice and publications travel across the globe carrying a message of empowerment and transformation. Coach Tam is a Chicago native making strides as a Kingdom Ambassador.
One of Coach Tam’s mottos is, “preparation before presentation”. She believes you can only give what you have and is a lifelong learner. Besides her personal time of prayer, and study, here are several certifications she has received in preparation to serve:
Diploma in Christian Counseling with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry
Board Certification as a Biblical Counselor
Advanced Diploma in Christian Life Coaching
Certified Leadership Coach
Certified Professional Life Coach
Certified Mental Health Coach
Spiritual and Mental First Aid Certification
She is also a current member of the Daniels Den Coaching Group, and preparing to complete her Master’s Degree with a concentration in Leadership Development.
Above all, Coach Tam’s heart’s desire is to be found pleasing in her Heavenly Father’s eyes, and doing what He has created her to do.
