Bishop Alvin J. McCoy is the Founder, Prelate, and Chief Apostle of Apostolic Ministries International. He is also the Founder and Chief Apostle of Greater New and Living Way Temple, the headquarters church for Apostolic Ministries International.
Bishop was born on February 28th, 1947, and raised in Farrell, PA. He is the son of the late Wilbert McCoy and the late Rose Mae Farrow-McCoy. Bishop’s aunt, the late Mother Irene Johnson, played a crucial role in supporting his spiritual growth. Elder Lisa M. Johnson-McCoy became Bishop’s lovely bride on July 29th, 1978. The father of one adopted son, Brian Yopp, and the proud grandfather of three beautiful granddaughters. Bishop’s siblings are Overseer Flora L. Newby, Hermitage, PA., and Cheryl McCoy-Johnson of Meadville, PA
Bishop obtained his theological training at S.M.E.A. Bible Institute in Transfer, Pennsylvania, The School of Ministerial Studies in Streetsboro, Ohio, and The Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is certified by the American Board of Christian Psychology as a paraprofessional counselor.
His ministerial experience includes pastor of Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ, Battle Creek, Michigan; associate minister of Faith Temple, Sharpsville, Pennsylvania; associate minister of Tabernacle of God, Ravenna, Ohio; and founder of Tabernacle of God in Chiefland, Florida. Bishop has evangelized across the United States, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Salvation Message of Acts 2:38.
Bishop McCoy founded Apostolic Ministries in 1979 with a vision to carry out the Great Commission by establishing Christian Schools and training for ministers, and then establishing churches to carry the gospel to every creature. He incorporated the ministry with the state of Pennsylvania a year later.
Bishop McCoy is the prelate of over 24 established churches and four personal ministries in 10 states, 10 churches in Haiti, and 4 churches in the Dominican Republic. He is experiencing the realization of the vision that God gave him 47 years ago for ministry. Of all his major accomplishments, Bishop Alvin J. McCoy considers winning souls for our Lord Jesus Christ to be the most important.
Bishop McCoy’s accomplishments include, but are not limited to the following:
He has served Apostolic ministries as prelate for 47 years, New and Living Way as pastor for 40 years, and has served the community by working in the Mercer County court system for over 28 years. He organized morning prayer walks and all-night prayer vigils in the community to pray for the needs of Farrell and the surrounding community. He began the program to deliver a hot, monthly meal free of charge to our community seniors. Through the House of Restoration for men, he assisted and provided housing for men coming out of prison with character-building self-sufficiency and connecting them back to their families and community.
Bishop McCoy is now the prelate of 23 churches and ministries located in 10 states within the United States, and internationally, he has 10 churches in Haiti and four churches in the Dominican Republic. He is experiencing the realization of the vision that God gave him 47 years ago for ministry.
The apostolic ministry spiritual family thanks God for this great apostle, prophet, and visionary, and we are privileged to help carry out the vision that God has given him.
Even though Bishop McCoy has retired as pastor of Greater New Living Way Temple effective on January 13, 2019, he is excited about the new chapter God has for him as he serves in the full capacity of prelate and chief apostle of Apostolic Ministry International.
In November of 2025, Bishop McCoy stepped down as head of Apostolic Ministries Int and appointed Bishop Stephen Bennefield as the new head. Bishop McCoy remains as a Spiritual advisor on the board.