A graduate of David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee, McKay has served as a local minister in Hawaii, Maryland and Tennessee and had the unique opportunity to perform missionary service in Japan. All this, coupled with a focused interest in the history of hymn music, has enabled McKay to spend several years studying why hymns were written, from a truly unique perspective.

   His extensive collection of over five hundred hymn books provides a rich source of material for his numerous speaking engagements. He enjoys speaking on the history of hymns to Bible classes and at Sunday evening services. Most rewarding to him is to observe teens identify with the stories and messages of the hymns allowing them to sing with a new appreciation for the importance.