DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. served as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) in Somerset, New Jersey. His pastoral ministry focused on spiritual growth, educational excellence, economic empowerment.
From 1999 to 2002, Soaries served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, making him the first African American male to do so. He also served as the former chairman of the United States Election Assistance Commission.
In 2005, Soaries launched the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement. The dfree® strategy teaches people how to break free from debt as a first step toward financial freedom. dfree® was featured in a 90 minute CNN documentary “Almighty Debt.”
Soaries currently serves as an independent director at Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.
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.
