Mercer University counts a five-time world champion among its alumni.
Powerlifter James Henderson, also known as Big James Henderson and James “Hollywood” Henderson, graduated from Mercer with a bachelor’s degree in theology and sociology from the College of Professional Advancement in 1994.
Henderson started powerlifting after he blew out his knee playing college football at Albany State. That’s also when he rededicated himself to the Lord and later became a traveling evangelist, according to a column he wrote in 1999.
Henderson — who competed in the International Powerlifting Federation, winning world titles from 1994-98 for bench-pressing over 700 pounds — used his feats of strength to help spread the Gospel.
Today he is founder and president of James Henderson Ministries, established to reach out to those in spiritual need, according to his website, bigjameshenderson.com. He serves as a motivational speaker and ministers to prisoners.
Mercer Made is a series in which we feature notable people, businesses, products and inventions connected to Mercer University.
