Miles McPherson
Encyclopedia
Miles McPherson is the pastor
of The Rock Church
in San Diego, a motivational speaker
, and a former NFL football player
.
. He attended the University of New Haven
, where he majored in engineering. McPherson was the university's first player to achieve All-American honors in football and be drafted into the NFL. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams; he was cut and went on to play defensive back for the San Diego Chargers
.
After battling a drug problem, McPherson became a born again Christian in 1984, and began participating in religious outreach programs.
In September 1986, he retired from football; the next week, he enrolled in Azusa Pacific University
's School of Theology.
He received his Master of Divinity
degree in 1991.
In 1992, McPherson founded "Miles Ahead", a non-profit international evangelical organization.
In 2000, McPherson founded The Rock Church
. As of 2009, more than 12,000 attend one of the Rock’s five weekend services.
McPherson spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention
, and was an advocate of Prop 8, during the 2008 elections. During the Miss USA 2009 controversy
involving Carrie Prejean
, a member of his church, McPherson appeared on Larry King Live
, The O'Reilly Factor
, and other national news networks.
is also a NFL player.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of The Rock Church
The Rock Church
The Rock Church is a protestant, evangelical megachurch located in San Diego, California, USA. Miles McPherson, a former NFL player, has served as senior pastor since he founded the church in 2000. With an average weekly attendance of nearly 12,000, the Rock is currently the 19th largest and the...
in San Diego, a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
, and a former NFL football player
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
.
History
McPherson grew up on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. He attended the University of New Haven
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven is a private university that combines a liberal arts education with professional training. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C...
, where he majored in engineering. McPherson was the university's first player to achieve All-American honors in football and be drafted into the NFL. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams; he was cut and went on to play defensive back for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
After battling a drug problem, McPherson became a born again Christian in 1984, and began participating in religious outreach programs.
In September 1986, he retired from football; the next week, he enrolled in Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University is a private, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles in suburban Azusa, California. It was founded in 1899, with classes opening on March 3, 1900 in Whittier, California. It began offering degrees in 1939...
's School of Theology.
He received his Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree in 1991.
In 1992, McPherson founded "Miles Ahead", a non-profit international evangelical organization.
In 2000, McPherson founded The Rock Church
The Rock Church
The Rock Church is a protestant, evangelical megachurch located in San Diego, California, USA. Miles McPherson, a former NFL player, has served as senior pastor since he founded the church in 2000. With an average weekly attendance of nearly 12,000, the Rock is currently the 19th largest and the...
. As of 2009, more than 12,000 attend one of the Rock’s five weekend services.
McPherson spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
The United States 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008...
, and was an advocate of Prop 8, during the 2008 elections. During the Miss USA 2009 controversy
Miss USA 2009 controversy
The Miss USA 2009 controversy centered around Miss California USA 2009 Carrie Prejean's answer to a question regarding same-sex marriage. During the ceremony, the five finalists were all asked about political issues such as how to fight domestic violence, whether or not to use taxpayer money to...
involving Carrie Prejean
Carrie Prejean
Caroline Michelle "Carrie" Prejean Boller is an American model, author, former Miss California USA 2009 and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up. Prejean received national attention in 2009 when she told a pageant judge that marriage should be between a man and a woman; pageant judge and gossip blogger...
, a member of his church, McPherson appeared on Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
, The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, and other national news networks.
Family
McPherson and his wife Debbie have three children. His younger brother Don McPhersonDon McPherson
Donald G. McPherson is a former National Football League and Canadian Football League quarterback who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988 after a college career at Syracuse University during which he won the Maxwell Award, the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award and finished second...
is also a NFL player.