Reverend Dr. Mark Barclay

The Creative Genius of the Black Community can be Strengthened or Weakened by our Collective Response to the Walls in our lives!

Rev . Dr. Barclay is an Ordained UCC Minister who received his Bachelors in Arts(Psychology) from Chicago State University, his Master in Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary and completed his Doctoral  Degree from MCCormick Theological Seminary in 2019 with a Doctorate in African Religious Thought  as a Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Scholar.

Rev. Mark has also  been a practitioner of martial arts for most of his life.   Rev Mark first trained at  Raymond Coopers Martial Arts school of Wing Chun Kung fu in Chicago Heights, Illinois. 

Rev. Mark later joined the United States Marine Corp where he studied Okinawa Kenpo under Master Seikichi Odo. Upon discharge from the Marine Corp Reverend Mark studied and received his black belt in Taekwondo at Kwons/Draco Academy which at that time was in Country Club Hills. Rev Mark left Draco briefly and trained at USA Taekwondo on Chicago’s north side.

In 1993, Rev Mark credits this training at USA Taekwondo on Chicago’s North Side, with preparing him for nationals, which he competed in 1993 at St. Paul Civic Center in Minnesota. Mark joined Trinity United Church of Christ in 1995 and answered the call to ministry in 1997. Art of Noyz Ministries is a culmination of a whisper which turned into a shout from the Holy Spirit for men , women and children to move outside the church in spaces where people can experience embodied acts of love in community. The Art of NOYZ  Outreach Ministries is an intricate part of Mark’s vision to nurture peace through movement, teamwork and individual & collective achievement. This work utilizes sporting events, fine arts, entrepreneurship, spoken word , building trade, college readiness and returning citizens programming to journey with our African American community to actively rebuild  together a wall  of greatness. A recovering drug addict with over 25years sober,  Rev. Mark clearly understands the word of the late James Cone: That “If we want to see the Glory of God, We must be willing to sit where the suffering sit”

Actively
Rebuilding
Together

Noyz

N = Numinous: the powerful personal experience of being overwhelmed yet inspired.

Ometz Lev
(OH-metz layv)

Having the Courage (of heart);
a boldness to challenge and tear down obstacles or walls of oppression that block greatness within our community.

Yugen

A profound sense of the beauty of the universe that triggers a deep emotional response. A deep caring for your community that nurtures a desire to transform words into actions.

Zerizut
(Ze- ree - zoot)

Zeal; enthusiasm; alacrity; Having a passion or eagerness to serve our community.

We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height because the people had a heart for the work.

Nehemiah 4:6 Message