Bishop Samuel Duncan, Jr. is known as a man of character, integrity, and wisdom. Appointed as pastor of the Lansing Church of God In Christ in June 1992, he and First Lady Dorothy Duncan began to walk in their place of purpose and destiny.

Bishop Duncan was consecrated as Bishop in the Church of God in Christ, November 15, 2010. As Prelate of the Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Southwest Michigan, he oversees 25 churches throughout the state of Michigan, including churches in Saginaw, Flint, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Detroit.

Bishop Duncan is also the Founder & CEO of New Faith Ministries (501c3 Non-Profit Organization). Armed with a spiritual and moral agenda, New Faith Ministries seeks to effectively utilize its collective influence to benefit Lansing residents and to respond to the challenges and issues that face the Greater Lansing Area and beyond.

Active in the community, Bishop Duncan has served on numerous boards and has been affiliated with many community organizations.

Bishop Duncan attended Lansing Public Schools from elementary through high school graduating from J. W. Sexton. Then he attended Western Michigan University and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Accounting. His major was accounting with a minor in management. While attending Western Michigan, He also holds a Master of Arts in Theology from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

In his private life, Bishop Duncan is the husband of one wife, Evangelist Dorothy Duncan, and the father of two children, Elder Samuel “Cisco” Duncan IV (District Missionary Benita), and Shayla (Elder Sheldon) Thomas, and grandfather of four wonderful grandchildren. More importantly than all that has been stated, Bishop Duncan wants you to know that he’s saved, sanctified, baptized, and filled with the Holy Ghost.

Samuel Duncan, IV holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting (Saginaw Valley State University), and a Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership (Grand Rapids Theological Seminary).  His work experience consists of over 25 years with government agencies, financial services, and Credit Union Board of Directors.  

He is currently the owner of Poimen (pronounced poy-mane’) Consulting, LLC providing administrative solutions and leadership training for churches.  He currently serves as the Assistant Pastor, a church trustee, and a member of the Finance Committee for the Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Southwest Michigan.

As the owner and founder of Transformation Empowerment Solutions, known as TransformationbyCarmen.com, Carmen has been resiliently studying and perfecting her craft while completing her Doctorates Degree with Bakke Graduate University  Transformational Leadership with an emphasis in Culture and developing Women Entrepreneurs.  Carmen is an alumni of Spring Arbor College, Masters Degree In Family Studies, Bachelors Degree in Management & Organizational Development, Ministry Training and Self-Esteem Expert. In addition, Carmen is an International Certified Holistic Life Coach.

Carmen is an inspirational, motivator, author, encourager, teacher, and sought after speaker who travels the world to speak at seminars, workshops, conferences, and community events. 

Carmen is a Transformation Coach, with a Green Belt Certification in Lean Process Improvement; she has taught & facilitated foreclosure prevention, credit repair, home buying classes, marriage & family classes and self-esteem, Mission/Vision/Values, Stakeholder Engagement Analysis, Lessons Learned, Purpose/Position/Power workshops.  Carmen has a proven system to show you how she went from a million dollars in debt without filing bankruptcy. Carmen’s has over 20 years of experience working with executive leaders, government leaders, professional athletes and managing multimillion dollar real estate projects.

Carmen is the Founder and Executive Director of Transformation GEMS, a 501c3 Women’s Entrepreneur Empowerment Startup Accelerator, in the Lansing, MI area, Carmen has helped several women start & sustain businesses within the last 10 years.

Carmen’s mission is to strategically educate, motivate and empower every individual she meets to do the impossible while identifying their solutions.

Leonard Rusher is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He is married to Doreatha Rusher for 23 years. They have two beautiful daughters Shyvonne and Chantel Rusher, which attend Central Michigan University.

He retired from the United States Army after serving 33 years holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his tenure in the military he served two combat tours in Southwest Asia. He earned his Bachelor and Master degree from Davenport University in Business Administration (Marketing) and Entrepreneurial Management.
Lenny is currently serving as the Senior Army Instructor for the Detroit JROTC Program at Cody High School.

Lenny has always had the aspiration to be an entrepreneur since the age of 12, while having a newspaper route. He is currently a real estate investor in the Detroit area. He recently stumbled on another entrepreneur venture as a scholarship consultant helping kids secure funding to attend college. As of Dec. 31, 2016, he assisted a host of families obtaining over $1.1 million dollars in scholarship awards.

Lenny is a proud and active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Shondra L. Marshall is a native of Flint, Michigan with a special connection to the cities of Lansing and Detroit. She completed her Bachelor and Master degrees at Michigan State University. While completing her Masters degree in Teaching and Curriculum she obtained a literacy and language instruction specialization. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Studies: Urban Education Ph.D. program at Eastern Michigan University. Her research interests include examining pedagogy, academic performance, educational experiences, teacher preparation and literacy activities of African American students. She also has interest surrounding racial socialization and parental influences of African American students.

Shondra served as a writing instructor at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was a part of the research and data management team for Excellent Schools Detroit. She has taught a reading course at Saginaw Valley State University and also taught several sections of Strategies for Success courses to first year students at South University in Novi Michigan. She has also been in an administrative role at South University as an Academic Success Center Coordinator.

She is a member of several community outreach organizations. In her community efforts she is involved with the Michigan State University Black Alumni organization and serves as the treasurer for the Oakland County chapter. Additionally, she is the scholarship chair of the Dr. Paulette C. Walker Endowed Scholarship at Michigan State University. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Southfield Alumnae Chapter.

Shondra has been invited to speak to several youth group gatherings and college preparatory events. Through those opportunities she always encourages youth to never stop believing and to make a commitment to their self to reach their destiny. Shondra states often, “our youth are not only our future but they are also an intricate piece and hope for today.”

Dominique Devereaux (Rosewood) is a native of Detroit, MI who found her love of the arts and community service at a young age. She has dedicated her life to youth development as she has worked as the Teen Director of Lansing’s Boys & Girls Club (2012- 2013) and volunteer advisor for MSU’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (2012 -2016). She now serves as a coordinator and presenter for multiple youth conferences and activities such as Delta Sigma Theta’s Teen Summit, Grit, Glam & Guts (GGG), College Application Week. She has a special affinity for the arts as she brings over 20 years of studying and participating in the arts through multiple avenues.

Dominique’s education includes a Bachelors of Science from the Department of Social Science at Michigan State University focusing on History and Political Science in Secondary Education. As well as completing her Masters of Public Administration from Central Michigan University. She has completed extensive research on the benefits of arts participation for disadvantaged communities, which laid the foundation of her non-profit, DreamWorld Studios for the Arts. The organization’s mission is to promote and enhance educational and professional experiences of youth and community through the arts.

She is currently employed with the Michigan Senate, as the Constituent Relations Representative for Senator James Ananich of Flint, MI. In her role she advocates and assist residents of Flint, Flint Township, Genesee County, Clio, Mt. Morris and Burton Michigan with a variety of concerns, request and issues; Issues and request surrounding but not limited to, Health and Human Services, unemployment insurance, Department of Education, Water resources, and community outreach efforts etc.

Dominique seeks to provide the families with accessible high quality programs that encourage positive self-expression and community engagement. She has built strong ties with the Lansing and Greater Lansing area through her involvement with various academic, civic and social programs and organizations designed to serve youth and families.