Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. is the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey. A pioneer of faith-based community development, Dr. Soaries has led First Baptist in the construction of a new $20 million church complex and the formation of many not-for-profit entities to serve the community surrounding the church.

Highlights of Dr. Soaries’ ministry include recruiting families to become foster parents to 370 abandoned babies; helping 145 children find adoptive parents; constructing 124 new homes for low and moderate income residents to own; redeveloping 150,000 square feet of commercial real estate; operating the Central New Jersey STRIVE program for job readiness; serving hundreds of youth in an after school center and homework club; forming a youth entrepreneurship program; and redeveloping commercial real estate.

In addition to his pastoral duties Dr. Soaries is a popular speaker at colleges, universities, conferences and churches around the world. He recently addressed religious and government leaders in Belgium at the request of the United States Department of State. He was also the keynote speaker at the Official Year 2000 National Commemorative of the National Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Soaries is a frequent advisor to major corporations in the areas of diversity, philanthropy and community relations.

Dr. Soaries has been an active agent for change ever since his youth. As a college student, he led a campaign against drug use on campus that resulted in his being kidnapped from his dormitory room at gunpoint by drug dealers. He later worked on civil rights issues for the Urban League as a community organizer and Operation PUSH as the national coordinator. After finishing college, Dr. Soaries began his ministry in Montclair, New Jersey and has served churches in Harlem, New York and Kingston, Jamaica.

In the 1980’s Dr. Soaries contributed significantly to the contemporary gospel music industry, having managed the careers of award winning artists including Bebe and Cece Winans, Tramaine Hawkins, Commissioned, Paradise and Fred Hammond.

From January 12, 1999 to January 15, 2002, Dr. Soaries served as New Jersey's 30th Secretary of State. Appointed by former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, he managed one of the premier departments of state government and served as a senior advisor to the governor on issues that transcended traditional departmental lines.

In February 2003, Dr. Soaries was appointed by President Bush to serve as a public director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. He was a member of the affordable housing committee of the bank.

Dr Soaries is also the former chairman of the United States Election Assistance Commission. This Commission was established by Congress to implement the “Help America Vote Act” of 2002 and to create new national standards for voting in federal elections. Dr. Soaries was appointed by President George W. Bush on December 15, 2003 after being confirmed by the United States Senate. He was elected chairman of the Commission on January 5, 2004 at the first meeting of the four member, bi-partisan Commission. He resigned from the Commission in April 2005.

Dr. Soaries earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fordham University; a Master of Divinity Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary. He has also received six honorary Doctorate degrees from institutions of higher learning. Additionally, Dr. Soaries has taught courses at Princeton Theological Seminary, Drew University Theological School, Kean University, and Mercer County College.

Dr. Soaries has received numerous awards for his leadership and community service. He was recently recognized by the both houses of the New Jersey Legislature for his religious and community leadership. His work has been featured in several publications including the New York Times, Ebony Magazine, Black Enterprise and Government Executive Magazine.

Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Soaries resides in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey with his wife, Donna and twin sons, Malcolm and Martin.



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