Marcus Campbell is the Senior Pastor of Abundant Grace Assembly in Chicago, IL.
Pastor Marcus A. Campbell began his ambitious educational and spiritual journey while attending Lindblom High School in Chicago, Illinois. While holding several class positions and receiving many high honors, he graduated amongst the top ten of his class. From 1991 to 1999, Pastor Marcus was a faithful member of the Soul Children of Chicago Choir. This allowed him the opportunity to sing and minister across the world with well-known gospel artists like James Cleveland, Tramaine Hawkins, and Kirk Franklin, as well as other personalities such as Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Oprah Winfrey and Dionne Warwick.
During his time with the Soul Children, Pastor Marcus grew deeper in the Lord. In 1994, he accepted his call to the ministry and in 1997, received his license to preach from Christian Youth Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois by his father, Reverend Eugene Cherry.
Pastor Marcus went on to continue his education at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. As a college undergraduate, he served in many capacities on several Executive Boards. The primary position he held was as the Director of Faith Christian Peer Ministry, a campus organization founded to aid students in their relationship with God and to teach them the word of God. Under his leadership, Faith attracted as many as 100 students on Friday nights at the University of Illinois. Pastor Marcus spoke at numerous conferences as both a preacher and an educational student and also received various awards throughout his college career, such as the McNair Scholars Program, Myron and Jewel Ash Scholar, and the Mom's Day Scholar Honoree.
Pastor Marcus graduated from the University of Illinois in May of 2002 with a degree in English Education with emphasis on African-American Studies. Upon graduation, he accepted a position at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois as an English and Humanities teacher. He had previously been ordained in ministry in April of 2002 by his father and was soon after installed as the Youth Pastor at Chicago Embassy Church in Chicago, Illinois by Bishop Edward Peecher in July. As he poured into the youth ministry that was precisely named, "Young Revolutionaries for Christ", he was used by God to transform ordinary teenagers into preachers and prophets. He thoroughly developed the ministry by iniating a tutoring program, holding monthly youth services called "Friday Nite Live" which drew kids from all over the city, and providing retreats that empowered the youth to make a difference in their schools and homes.
The year 2004 was one of great change and transition for Pastor Marcus as his father was called home to be with the Lord. This occurrence took him through a season of grieving, but also to a new level in God as the pastoral mantle from his father was transferred onto his shoulders.
In October of 2005, Pastor Marcus was installed as the Senior Pastor of Abundant Grace Assembly, a church planted by Bishop Edward Peecher and Chicago Embassy Church. Development for the church began in June of 2005 after God spoke "abundance grace" to Pastor Marcus from the text found in 2 Corinthians 9:8 that says, "And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (NKJV).
Pastor Marcus is a loving and devoted family man, married to his wife, Latoya, for five years, and father to a young son, Emerson. He walks daily with integrity and humility and is a role model for many young men. As he continues his career in education at ETHS and while serving as Senior Pastor of AGA, his educational journey has not yet ended. He will soon complete a master's degree in Social and Cultural Foundations in Education at DePaul University in the summer of this year. He also plans to pursue a doctorate in Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
Abundant Grace Assembly has grown to a congregation of nearly 100 people since its launch and has expanded its growth through the implementation of several ministries. As a vessel chosen to shepherd God's people, Pastor Marcus continues to seek wisdom and guidance from the Lord to make a lasting impact in the kingdom of God.
Marcus Campbell was featured on our Hip Hop Hypocrisy program which aired on November 22, 2009.
