Michel Faulkner Michel J . Faulkner ( born May 21 , 1957 in Baltimore , Maryland ) is a former New York Jets football player and was the 2010 Republican nominee for U . S . Representative for . He is the pastor for New Horizon Church in New York City . Early life and education . His mother , Queenita Hairston , a beautician , married Steve Faulkner , a Washington , D . C . police officer . After moving to D . C . , he lived and attended elementary school in southeast Washington , D . C . area of Anacostia . His family later moved to Prince George ' s County , Maryland , where Faulkner attend junior high and was graduated from Bishop McNamara High School in 1975 . He was awarded a football scholarship to Virginia Tech where he was a four - year starter and freshman All - American . In 1980 , he was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and sociology . While at Tech Faulkner was involved in drama and spoken word presentations where he developed his public speaking abilities . National Football League . After college , Faulkner signed with the National Football League and had tryouts with the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins . In 1981 he attended training camp with the New York Jets and spent the 1981 - 1982 season with the team as a defensive lineman . He was cut from the Jets in 1982 because of a leg injury . Academic career . After leaving the Jets in June 1982 Faulkner returned to Washington DC . After several unsuccessful attempts to get into broadcast media Faulkner decided to attend graduate school . After deciding to attend CBN , now Regents University in Virginia Beach , Virginia , he served as Virginia Tech ' s assistant academic advisory to athletes . Faulkner moved to Blacksburg , Virginia ( Virginia Tech ) to complete his master ' s degree in education and career counseling . After completing his master ' s degree in 1985 , Faulkner met Jerry Falwell and joined Liberty University as assistant Dean of Students . In 1987 , he was promoted to vice president for urban ministry . In 1988 he moved from Lynchburg Va . to Times Square area of Manhattan . Ministry . In 1988 , Faulkner returned to New York City as assistant pastor of Lamb ' s Church in Times Square . Here he worked directly with homeless men , women and children as both a pastor and a social work er . Faulkner worked as an advocate for the homeless and the poor with both city , state and community organization s . In 1989 , Faulkner joined Calvary Baptist Church in Midtown Manhattan as a youth pastor and community outreach . He led the ministries to train and develop youth and managed the church ’ s programs serving the homeless , the prison ministry and an HIV / AIDS program . Faulkner was ordained at Calvary Baptist Church in December 1991 . In 1993 , Rev . Faulkner became the senior pastor of Central Baptist Church in Manhattan , growing the congregation from an average of 50 weekly attendees to over 400 . During his nearly 14 - year tenure at Central Baptist Church , Rev . Faulkner played in a leadership role in the creation of numerous city and leadership development programs . He now pastors the New Horizon Church . Community and Civic Work . Mayor Rudy Giuliani appointed Faulkner to Task Force on Police Community Relations , after working on Giuliani ' s campaign . He has also served as Commissioner of the City Charter Review initiative , the co - chairman for the New York City Board of Education ’ s HIV / AIDS Task Force , and Vice President for Community Government Relations at King ’ s College from 1988 to 1992 . From June 2002 to February 2004 , Michel served as World Vision ’ s Director of U . S . Programs . He oversaw the distribution of over $ 1 million in faith - based community and youth development grants to eight local churches in New York City . Faulkner served as Regional Chaplain for New York State Office of Children and Family Services from November 2005 to May 2006 . In 2005 , Faulkner founded the Institute for Leadership , a non - profit organization to developleaders and leadership programs . The institute brings leadership principles to all areas and marketplaces such as teacher s , business leader s , government official s , other public servant s , sports coaches and ministers . In June 2006 , Faulkner founded the New Horizon Church of New York in Harlem . Faulkner describes New Horizon as a Christ - centered congregation focused on " bringing light to the darkness , and being an agent of transformation to bring the Gospel to Harlem . " In 2007 , Faulkner sued the State of New York , on behalf of New Horizon Church , to overturn the Blaine Amendment to its constitution . The Blaine Amendment bans state assistance to schools that have a religious affiliation . Current activities . In addition to New Horizon Church , Faulkner also serves as the as Vice - President for Antioch School ( a church based theological training institution ) , Board Member for NYC Department of Youth and Community Assistance , Regional Leader for Christ Covenant Coalition ( Clergy Association ) , guest speaker for national and local radio and television broadcasts including ABC and “ Live with Regis and Kelly ” and he serves as President of The Institute For Leadership . The IFL received a grant from New York State Health Foundation ’ s in 2009 to run a statewide diabetes campaign for the faith - based community . 2010 U . S . Congressional campaign . On February 12 , 2010 , Faulkner announced his candidacy to run as the Republican , Conservative and Jobs Now nominee , challenging Democratic and Working Families incumbent Charlie Rangel for . The 15th district includes Harlem , parts of the Upper West Side , Washington Heights and parts of the Bronx and Queens . Also running are Independence Party and Vote People Change nominee Craig Schley , and Socialist Worker nominee Roger Calero . Faulkner was inspired to run for office by Scott Brown ' s successful election to Ted Kennedy ' s former Senate seat . Faulkner has stated that his reason for running for Congress is his belief that " greed and corruption " is ruining government . He believes that government should work to assist the " powerless " and the " voiceless " . Faulkner has been endorsed by Sean Hannity , the New York Right to Life Party , and Congressman John Carter . Faulkner and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele campaigned together in Harlem on October 26 , 2010 . Steele called Faulkner a strong representative of " new " Republican Party . In the November 2 , 2010 , general election , Faulkner received 9 , 235 votes ( about 10 % ) of the 102 , 176 total votes cast , as Rangel won with 80 % of the vote . Political issues . Faulkner supports tax cuts for small businesses to create jobs . He supports alternatives to the public school system such as charter schools and school choice . Faulkner is pro - life . Faulkner advocates making changes to the recent enacted health care law where the focus would be impoving health care instead of changing health insurance . Faulkner has been critical of the law , stating that it was enacted before legislators had read it , increases federal regulation of health care , did not contain a provision on tort reform , did not deregulate insurance sales between states , will lead to higher costs and lost jobs . Faulkner has been critical of incumbent Congressman Charles Rangel who has controlled four rent - stabilized apartments in Harlem , which are designated for individuals that have been approved for affordable housing . Faulkner has been critical of the Obama administration ' s handling of foreign affairs , especially as it pertains to Israel . He believes that the national security of the United States is " inextricably tied to Israel ' s security " and as such the U . S . must " ensure that Israel ' s security is not compromised . " Faulkner believes that the real threat to peace in the Middle East is not Israel but rather the " terrorists such as Hamas , Hezbollah , and other Iran ian proxies . " Faulkner has also stated that Obama assisted in the delegitimization of Israel and as such Obama ' s actions " fuel feelings of anti - Semitism . " He has signed Grover Norquist ' s anti - tax pledge of the Americans for Tax Reform . Faulkner has stated that government spending is an important issue for him : " My campaign is not just about Mr . Rangel and his recent indiscretions . It is about stopping the direction in which the government , led by his party , is going . The growing size of the federal government is unbelievable . That ’ s a bigger scandal than the ethics issue — the size of the debt , the unbridled spending . " During the campaign , Faulkner appeared on the " Imus In The Morning " show on Fox Business and WABC , the John Batchelor Show on WABC , the Hannity show on Fox News Channel , and Soul Matters with Rabbi Shimshon Nadel on Arutz 7 / Israel National Radio to promote his candidacy .