is the Senior Pastor of the Renaissance Church of God in Christ of Grand Rapids, MI. He is a spiritual visionary who brings an array of theological, business, management, marketing and financial experience to Ministry. The culmination of these abilities has earned him the reputation of being a dynamic preacher and teacher of the gospel; and he is globally recognized for Urban Church Growth and Development.
Bishop McMurray established Renaissance Church of God in Christ August 22, 1992, with only his wife and their 3 children. Today the Renaissance Congregation is a progressive 21st century ministry that influences believers locally and around the world through weekly worship, television and radio ministries.
Bishop McMurray is a native of Muskegon Heights, Michigan. He earned an Associate’s Degree from Muskegon Community College and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Grand Valley State University. In 2014 he was conferred a Doctorate of Divinity from Christian Bible Institute and Seminary of Spring, Texas.
Ecclesiastically, Bishop McMurray serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Bishop of the Western Michigan Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ. In this capacity, he works directly with senior management of this 7 million member denomination in the areas of global ministry development and organizational expansion. He facilitates seminars, a motivational speaker for corporations, educational and social institutions and develops programs for Church Growth and Community Empowerment. In 2014, Bishop McMurray was selected by Christians United for Israel (CUFI) to represent Michigan as clergy from every state of the United States traveled to Israel to stand in Solidarity during the Gaza Conflict. He was recently published in the fall 2015 Leadership Journal.
As a Social Activist, Bishop McMurray has served on the; National Board of Directors for Bethany Christian Services, was appointed by the former Honorable Governor Jennifer M. Granholm to serve on the Community Corrections Board of the State of Michigan and Priority Health Member Advisory Council. He currently serves on the Spectrum Health Executive Patient and Family Advisory Council and the Michigan Board of Directors for Bethany Christian Services. He has served on many Civic and Ecumenical Boards & Committees and received numerous awards over his 25 year Pastoral Career. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and a Veteran of the United States Army.
Bishop McMurray was recognized as a Religious Life Giant by the city of Grand Rapids, of which he shared the honor with the entire Renaissance Congregation. In 2007 he was honored as Alumni of Year by Grand Valley State University Sideman School of Business. The Department of Human Services identified him as an outstanding Faith Community Leader. Also, in 2012 Bishop McMurray was recognized as one of Who’s Who in Black Grand Rapids by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Detroit Michigan. He has consistently provided leadership as well as been a catalyst for many social change causes.
Bishop McMurray is happily married to his college sweetheart, Dr. E. Jean Lackey-McMurray. They have four children; Parris (Fallon), ChaVon and Auston; of which they each have earned their Bachelor’s Degree.
