Michel Faulkner facts for kids

Michel J. Faulkner (born May 21, 1957) is a former professional football player. He played for the New York Jets and later became a pastor in New York City. Faulkner has also been involved in politics, running for public office as a Republican.

Early Life and Education

Michel Faulkner was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. He went to Bishop McNamara High School and graduated in 1975.

Faulkner earned a football scholarship to Virginia Tech. He was a strong player there for four years. In 1980, he earned a bachelor's degree in communications and sociology. While in college, he also developed his skills in public speaking.

Football Career

After college, Faulkner tried out for teams in the National Football League. He trained with the New York Jets in 1981. He played as a defensive lineman for the Jets during the 1981–1982 season. Unfortunately, a leg injury in 1982 ended his football career.

From Football to Ministry

After leaving football, Faulkner went back to school. He earned a master's degree in education and career counseling from Virginia Tech in 1985. After that, he joined Liberty University as an Assistant Dean of Students. He later became the Vice President for Urban Ministry. In 1988, he moved to Manhattan, New York.

Ministry Work

In 1988, Faulkner became an assistant pastor at Lamb's Church in Times Square. He also worked at King’s College from 1988 to 1992. In 1989, he joined Calvary Baptist Church as a youth pastor. He became an ordained pastor in 1991. In 1993, he became the senior pastor of Central Baptist Church in Manhattan.

From 2002 to 2004, Faulkner worked for World Vision. He helped give out over $1 million in grants to churches in New York City. These grants supported community and youth development programs.

In 2006, Faulkner started the New Horizon Church of New York in Harlem. He describes the church as a place focused on helping the community and sharing the Christian faith.

Community and Civic Involvement

Michel Faulkner has been very active in community service. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani appointed him to a special group that looked at police and community relations. He also helped with the City Charter Review and co-chaired the New York City Board of Education’s HIV/AIDS Task Force. From 2005 to 2006, he was a Regional Chaplain for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. He has also been a guest speaker on radio and television shows.

In 2005, Faulkner started the Institute for Leadership (IFL). This is a non-profit organization that helps develop leaders. The IFL teaches leadership skills to people in many different jobs, like teachers, business leaders, and government officials. In 2009, the IFL received a grant to run a statewide campaign about diabetes for faith-based communities.

Political Career

Faulkner has run for political office several times.

Running for Congress

In 2010, Faulkner announced he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 15th district. He ran as a Republican. He said he wanted to stop "greed and corruption" in government. He believed government should help people who feel "powerless" or "voiceless."

He received support from people like Sean Hannity and the New York State Right to Life Party. He also campaigned with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. In the election on November 2, 2010, Faulkner received about 10% of the votes.

New York City Elections

In 2015, Faulkner announced he would run for Mayor of New York City in 2017. He was the first person to announce his candidacy against the current mayor, Bill de Blasio.

In early 2017, Faulkner decided to run for New York City Comptroller instead of Mayor. He supported another candidate for Mayor. On November 7, 2017, Faulkner ran against the current Democratic Comptroller, Scott Stringer, and was defeated.

Political Views

Faulkner has shared his views on several important topics. .....

He has also spoken about healthcare laws. He believed that certain laws increased government control over healthcare and would lead to higher costs.

Faulkner has also talked about foreign policy, especially concerning Israel. He believes that the safety of the United States is connected to Israel's safety. He has stated that groups like Hamas and Hezbollah are the real threats to peace in the Middle East.

Government spending is another important issue for Faulkner. He believes that the size of the federal government and the amount of national debt are major concerns.

Personal Life

Michel Faulkner was married to his first wife, Virginia, for 31 years. She passed away in 2014. They had three children together. Faulkner is currently married to Sarai Padilla, who is a psychologist.

Published Work

• Restoring The American Dream, Camden House Books, (2010) ISBN: 1-936314-30-4.