Reverend Marcus D. Collins serves as founder and senior pastor of Grace Community Church in Montgomery, AL. The church began with 36 people in March 2017. The mission is simple: Loving people to life. When God called him to plant Grace, Marcus envisioned a church where everybody is touched by God’s love, where nobody however bad is excluded, and where anybody can be gifted with new life.

 

At the age of sixteen, Marcus began his public ministry at Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, under the watchful eyes of his pastor, Doctor Clinton David Patterson. Many and diverse speaking opportunities, both within and beyond Beulah, helped Marcus to rapidly and progressively develop in preaching and teaching. Likewise, these years of assisting his pastor, trained Marcus in the fundamental aspects of spiritual leadership.

 

After graduating from High School, Marcus studied at Beulah Heights Bible College in Atlanta, Georgia, which provided him with a broad knowledge of Biblical and theological concepts, and hands-on training in practical ministry environments. He furthered his education at Atlanta Christian College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Relations. Marcus is currently pursuing graduate studies at The Interdenominational Theological Center.

 

Marcus has an abiding commitment to the church and the marketplace, relating with equal ease to both venues and using his influence to mentor in both locations. He is licensed both as a Funeral Director and Life Insurance Agent. Motivated by a desire to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic, and intellectual status, Marcus is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

 

In March of 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Marcus led the church to launch the SayYourGrace Food and Wellness Program to address food insecurity in Montgomery County. That same year, Grace provided groceries to over 4,000 families and has expanded its outreach to provide food to Montgomery Public School students through the Food Backpack Program. This program is designed to provide students with enough food to eat over the weekend.

 

Motivated by his love for people, his love for preaching, and his belief that no one is beyond the reach of God, Marcus’ greatest joy is seeing lives transformed through what God might have to say through him. Those who sit under his preaching would most aptly describe his attitude using Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 2:1: When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

 

Marcus is married to Takiya B. Collins and has one daughter, Mackenzie Jordan.