Suffragan Bishop Luke A. McClendon, Jr. was born on July 6, 1952 to Luke Arthur and Mary Etta McClendon in Cordele, Georgia.  He married the lovely Mary Frances Cowart on July 2, 1977.  They have been blessed of God with two beautiful children…….Marlan Jason and Aaron Christopher.

Suffragan Bishop McClendon attended the Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Detroit Northwestern High School in January 1970.  While a student at Northwestern High School he was a member of the varsity baseball and varsity football team.  He served as one of the co-captains for the football team his senior year.  Suffragan Bishop McClendon also achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant as a member of the Northwestern High School Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC).

Suffragan Bishop McClendon was saved at New Grace Apostolic Faith Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan on August 17, 1979 but, eventually transferred his membership to Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Westland, Michigan.  He served under the leadership of District Elder Samuel B. Ware for 17 years (1979-1996).   On August 21, 1996 Suffragan Bishop McClendon by a unanimous vote of the congregation was elected as the Pastor due to District Elder Ware’s illness. Pastor McClendon was elevated to the office of Suffragan Bishop in March of 2011

Suffragan Bishop McClendon holds a B.S. Degree in Business Education as a graduate of Western Michigan University (1974).  He began working on a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling at Eastern Michigan University but intends to complete his Master’s Degree studies in Pastoral Guidance and Counseling or Theology.  Suffragan Bishop McClendon completed the educational requirements for Ministerial License in 1984 and Ordination in 1990 through Aenon Bible College located in Indianapolis, Indiana. His Ecclesiastical endorsement is with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (P.A.W.)

Prior to being elected as the Pastor of Christ Temple Apostolic Church, Pastor McClendon had been employed with the Michigan Department of Corrections for eleven years (1985-1996) as a Corrections Officer, Probation Officer and State Chaplain. Other experiences included employment as a school teacher (Secondary Education), High School Football Coach, Manufacturing Supervisor and Inventory Control Analyst at Ford Motor Company.