Rev. Dr. Lester A. McCorn
AME Zion Bishop 2016
First Lady Charlene
Charlene Maria McCorn is a talented native daughter of Monroe, GA with a passion for education and a heart for God. Mrs. McCorn (or "Lady Char", as many beloved parishioners have grown to know her) has served side by side with Dr. McCorn as his partner in ministry for half of her life (25 years), and has walked in God's calling as an educator for nearly as long (20 years). Together, the two have served as a dynamic ministry team, traveling as far as Peru and London to spread the Gospel.
Mrs. McCorn is the proud mother of three children (William Elijah, Maliaka, and John-Charles) and the adopted "auntie" of countless others. Her passion for young people has changed a plethora of lives as she brought the message of God's love to classrooms in both Chicago and Atlanta's southsides, as well as New Haven, CT, where her talent for teaching took root.
First Lady Charlene was given a gift for worship from a young age, and thought it not robbery to use that gift to bring souls to Christ. She has served as a worship leader and choir director since she was a teenager, and makes it a point to incorporate worship in every service.
Collectively, Dr. and Mrs. McCorn are an unparalleled ministry team. You will rarely see Dr. McCorn without his "Sweet Georgia Peach". From Sunday morning services, to marriage counseling, to Bible study and financial literacy courses, the two work in tandem to ensure that the body of Christ is thriving.
The McCorn "Kids"
William Elijah Benjamin McCorn
Born April 4th, the 22-year-old first-born child of Rev. and Mrs. McCorn developed an ardor for writing and performance art at a young age. The eldest of the McCorn children inherited both his parents' love for Zion and their passion for education. He has served as the President of the Georgia Conference ViCYC and, since graduating high school in 2011, has been working within the Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County public school systems as a mentor, drama teacher, and community liaison.
Maliaka Kenyetta McCorn
Maliaka Kenyetta was aptly given two Swahili names, together meaning "angel who loves beautiful music", that have guided through her life thus far. The now 19-year-old has been sincerely singing her praise for God and has exhibited an acute flare for the dramatic since she was barely two years old. Her God-given talents have not been hidden away, as Maliaka is known throughout the denomination for her years of service to the CR Thompson Mass Choir. Maliaka is currently honing her skills at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan as a Musical Theatre major.
John-Charles Wesley McCorn
The youngest of the three McCorn children, John-charles (or JC, as he prefers), has already begun to show a remarkable devotion to his craft. Just as his father, 15-year-old JC began to show a genuine love for basketball at a very young age. By the time he was 8, JC's relentless study of Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and other basketball greats had given him an understanding of the game that most kids his age lacked. This dedication has translated both into other sports and into the classroom, as JC is currently a two-sport athlete and an honor roll student at Mt. Hebron High School. Still, JC understands that it is through Christ that these feats are accomplished. With every touchdown he scores, a single index figer pointed to the sky shows as evidence to this fact.
