California Patriot Profile: Pastor Rob McCoy of Turning Point Faith
A Thousand Oaks pastor who carried faith into the public square never stopped standing for liberty, who is now among those carrying the torch of Charlie Kirk
⏱️ 6-Minute Read
Every week we highlight a different California Patriot — someone who has stood tall for the ideas of liberty and freedom in a state where the governing class is filled with left-wing ideologues that embrace both collectivism and authoritarianism. There is no better patriot deserving of a spotlight than my friend Rob McCoy.
Standing for Freedom During The Newsom COVID Shutdown
Pastor Rob McCoy refused when state officials ordered churches closed during the COVID lockdowns. As the longtime leader of Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, Rob opened his doors, saying worship could not be treated as “non-essential.” A Ventura County judge held him and the church in contempt of court and fined the church for continuing indoor services despite a restraining order.
Rob never considered himself a rebel — just an American standing up for rights he believed came from God. That steady conviction helped make him a national figure among people who believe liberty shouldn’t vanish during a crisis.
To his critics, it was defiance. To his supporters, it was courage. But to Rob, it was simply duty. He had sworn an oath as a pastor, a public servant, and an American citizen — and he intended to honor it.
From the Pulpit to the City Council
That determination didn’t begin in 2020. It was the product of years spent urging Christians to show up, serve locally, and take responsibility for their communities.
In 2015, McCoy won a seat on the Thousand Oaks City Council. In December 2018, he became mayor just as the city was still reeling from the Borderline Bar mass shooting and the Woolsey Fire the month prior. He was a visible presence at vigils and community gatherings, often opening with prayer and closing with practical action.
He often argued that a city’s budget reveals its moral priorities. He championed efficient, transparent spending and reminded colleagues that “the city serves its residents — not the other way around.” He mixed a pastor’s compassion with a businessman’s sense of discipline.
Even those who didn’t share his worldview respected his reliability and fairness. His years in city government remain a model of how faith, grounded in humility and service, can elevate rather than divide.
Principles on the Ballot
Public office wasn’t new to him; by then, he’d already tested himself on a larger stage.
A year before joining the City Council, Rob had run in the 2014 race for California’s 44th Assembly District. He didn’t win, but he ran what many observers still call a principled, articulate campaign in a tough district, earning 47.7 percent of the vote to Democrat Jacqui Irwin’s 52.3 percent. (Rob was considerably out-spent.)
His campaign emphasized constitutional integrity, limited government, and local control — framed not in ideology but in responsibility. Supporters described him as “the rare candidate who sounded the same in private as he did in public.” That campaign introduced him to community leaders, built trust, and showed that moral clarity can coexist with civility.
For Rob, that campaign taught him that politics isn’t about collecting titles; it’s about standing up for what you believe.
Turning Point Faith and a National Platform
That same conviction carried forward to his national ministry.
Today, Rob is co-chair of TPUSA Faith, an initiative founded out of Turning Point USA by Charlie Kirk to mobilize pastors and churches toward civic engagement. He’s helped pastors nationwide see faith should influence culture, not hide from it.
“Charlie Kirk often said when introducing him, “Rob McCoy isn’t just my pastor — he’s a fearless defender of faith and freedom.”
He’s known for blending Scripture and civics with plainspoken humor and urgency. “You don’t have to love politics,” he often says. “You must love your neighbor enough to protect their freedom.” Under his guidance, TPUSA Faith has become a growing movement connecting local churches to the responsibilities of citizenship.
I’ve seen that passion up close. I’ve known Rob for well over a decade, and we once traveled together to the Holy Land. He was one of the leaders of our group, and his deep knowledge of the sites — from Galilee to Jerusalem — brought the Bible to life in a way few pastors could. That was the same Rob you find behind the pulpit or on stage — thoughtful, engaging, and deeply rooted in his faith.
Though now Pastor Emeritus of Godspeak, Rob remains visible in the church and community. His successor, Pastor Micah Stephens — married to Rob’s daughter, Molly — continues the mission of equipping believers to engage their culture with courage and clarity.
That continuity is what impresses me most. I’ve watched Rob’s influence ripple through younger leaders, and it reminds me that steadfast conviction has a multiplying effect — one life shaping another in quiet, lasting ways.
A Life Anchored by Faith and Family
Born in Coronado in 1964 to a Navy family, Rob learned early about duty, discipline, and service. He excelled in water polo and swimming, earning All-American honors before studying history at Cal State Fresno and attending Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary.
Before he became a pastor, Rob spent time in the corporate world — lessons he later carried into city government and ministry alike.
He and his wife, Michelle, have been married for over three decades and raised five children — Molly, Kelly, Natasha, Daniel, and Michael (who works for TPUSA) — along with many wonderful grandchildren who light up their lives. As a friend, I can tell you Rob’s quick with a joke, but even faster to stand firm when something matters.
So, Does It Matter?
It matters most in moments of loss, when a man’s real character shows in how he comforts others. When Charlie Kirk passed away, Rob’s words at the memorial service were simple, powerful, and deeply human. Speaking before thousands, he said that Charlie “didn’t die today; he began to truly live,” reminding mourners that faith transforms tragedy into purpose.
He described how Charlie viewed politics as “an on-ramp to Jesus,” explaining that Kirk’s ultimate goal wasn’t winning elections but leading hearts toward truth. In that moment, Rob wasn’t just a pastor — he was a friend, a counselor, and a steady voice reminding everyone that the measure of a life is not its length, but its light.
Watching him that day reminded me why these profiles matter at all: because conviction doesn’t only shape politics — it shapes people.
It matters because Rob McCoy lives out what so many only talk about: courage, conscience, and compassion anchored in faith. Rob is a true patriot.
There are so many videos out there that capture Rob’s heart and spirit, but if you have not seen him deliver the opening remarks at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, it is worth the twelve minutes.
Check Out Our Library of 20 Other California Patriot Profiles!
Each week, we profile an exemplary California conservative. Previous profiles have been of the late Andrew Breitbart, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, Political Law Attorney Chuck Bell, Congressman Kevin Kiley, talk radio hosts Dennis Prager and John Kobylt, HJTA President Jon Coupal, actors James Woods, Kelsey Grammer, Adam Carolla and Gary Sinise, Thomas Sowell, Pro-Liberty Attorney Julie Hamill, Dr. Charles Kesler, Former CAGOP Chairman Ron Nehring, Federal Judge Roger Benitez, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow, Victor Davis Hanson, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and the late Second Amendment champion Sam Paredes. You can go here to see them all! If you have an idea for a patriot to profile, let me know!