Michael McConnell was born in Long Island, New York and raised in Jacksonville by his parents, Paul and Amanda McConnell.  Upon graduation from high school, he served in the United States Air Force.     He accepted Jesus Christ and was baptized at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, under the pastorate of Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Sr. Soon thereafter he accepted the call from God to preach the Gospel.    He graduated from Edward Waters College (University), in Jacksonville, with a degree in Sociology and continued his education at Morehouse School of Religion (Interdenominational Theological Center) in Atlanta, GA., where he earned a Master of Divinity Degree.  Following much study and prayer he was licensed and ordained for Gospel Ministry.   He began the position to Pastor First Baptist Church the third Sunday in December 2000 and officially installed in March 2001. Under his exemplary leadership many ministries have been established. Pastor McConnell is not only a gifted and powerful preacher and teacher, but his teaching skills have allowed him the opportunity to teach Biblical courses at the college level at Edward Waters College (University) in Jacksonville and Bethune Cookman College (University) in Daytona Beach, Florida where he earned the highest evaluation among professors in the religion/Philosophy Department by the students at Bethune.   Pastor McConnell has held the following positions:  Director of Christian Education at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, Coordinator of Parents Who Care of Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, and Coordinator of Core City Neighborhoods Rebound of Fresh Ministries in Jacksonville, Florida.   While at Fresh Ministries he was selected along with other clergies to an 11 day tour visiting Johannesburg, Soweto, Capetown, and Kruger Park in South Africa.  He also was invited to preach and tour an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.   Above all, Pastor McConnell is a lover of Jesus Christ, and a servant of the Most High God.  He continues to give stalwart leadership over the years, has led with love, faithfulness and integrity.   Many souls have been saved, young men and women called by God to the ministry and received training under his pastorate, and areas of the church remodeled. To God Be the Glory!!   Pastor McConnell has been married since August 1975 to the former Gloria A. Wallace. and have one son, Michael, two daughters, Kendra and Patrice.