Marcus R. McCoy, Jr has emerged as a 21st century thought leader, educator and community organizer. A third-generation ordanied minister in the historic Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. (COOLJC) McCoy knows first-hand the importance of faith, education, and civic engagement. Over the span of a few years McCoy has worked with a number of faith leaders and communities of faith to help mobilize thousands of local citizens. In 2015 McCoy was noted for his collaboration with civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, III and Rev. H.K. Matthews in organizing faith communities across the state of Florida for the nation’s largest educational choice demonstration.With aspirations of becoming a more effective, relevant and substantive voice in the new paradigm of faith, education, and civic engagement; McCoy has obtained both a Bachelor’s of Arts in Religion and Philosophy and a Master’s of Science in Transformative Leadership from his family’s alma-mater, Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his tenure as the youngest and only African-American Male Director of Faith Based Initiates for the nation's largest educational choice program; McCoy oversaw 1,200 schools and developed key programs that strategically galvanized and mobilized multi-faith communities throughout the state of Florida. In 2015 McCoy was nationally recognized by his alma-mater and inducted into the inaugural class of “40 under 40” which highlights the professional and humanitarian accomplishments of its alumni. Pastor McCoy serves as Lead Pastor of the historic Greater Refuge Memorial Church in Orlando, FL.