Rev. Michael J. Cox is a son of the South raised in the Midwest. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 8 and was baptized at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago Illinois. His first pastor was the Rev. Dr. Louis Rawls (the adopted father of singer Lou Rawls). He was a member of the Junior Usher Board, the youth choir, young adult choir, basketball teams, junior deacon board and later returned as an Associate Minister at his home church.

     Rev. Cox attended Morehouse College on a basketball scholarship and was graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science. While attending Texas Southern Law School in Houston, he accepted the call to the ministry. He entered seminary at Northwestern University in Chicago, received his master of arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1981. He's served as an Associate Minister at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Chicago Illinois; Youth Minister at. Brentwood Baptist Church, Houston, Texas; Senior Church Consultant, Union Baptist Association in Houston; Associate Director, Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, Atlanta,GA; Associate Pastor, Faith Community Baptist in Euclid Ohio, and a professor of Church Administration at Boyce Bible School in Willoughby, Ohio.

     He is a member of the Morehouse Alumni association and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Rev. Cox was born on July 15th in Jackson, Tennessee. He is the son of Thurman and Harris Cox. He has one brother, one sister and a son. An avid golfer, he also enjoys watching football and basketball.

     Rev. Cox seeks to help people discover their gifts for the glory of God. He is committed to a different kind of African-American church for the future. "The strength of traditions must be carried over, but new ground must be broken if we are to make a difference with young people because their world is radically different."

     Throughout his life, Rev. Cox has referred to Proverbs 3:5-6 to remind him that "He is in charge of my life": Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path."