HR0758 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0758 LRB101 20513 ECR 70115 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Reverend Dr. Nathaniel L. Edmond on his retirement from Second Baptist Church in Elgin and commend him on his years of service to others; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond received his bachelor's degree from Xavier University in Louisiana and is a graduate of the Executive Management Program of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; he has extensive training in theology, religion, and philosophy and has completed the Young Pastoral Training Classes at the National Baptist Sunday School Congress; he is a certified family counselor with experience in family, marriage, and teen counseling; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond was licensed into the Gospel Ministry at the Lincoln Heights Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 2, 1993; he joined Second Baptist Church in November of 1993 and was ordained in the ministry on April 30, 1995; he was installed as Pastor of Second Baptist Church on February 20, 2000; and

WHEREAS, Under Pastor Edmond, the Second Baptist Church has experienced tremendous growth numerically, financially, and, most importantly, spiritually; new programs under Pastor Edmond include the "Wonderful Wednesday" midweek service, a young adult ministry, a public relations ministry, a prison ministry including a 12 step drug program, a bus ministry, an Evangelism ministry, a Theater Arts ministry, and a Kinship Care Educational Symposium; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Pastor Edmond, the Second Baptist Church began a partnership with Sheridan Elementary School in 2006; this partnership involves 24 trained church volunteers who serve as mentors and tutors to 45 students identified as at-risk; in 2007, the Sheridan School Partnership was expanded to include Larsen Middle School and was renamed the SBC School Partnerships; and

WHEREAS, Due in part to Pastor Edmond's popularity, a second Sunday morning worship began in June, 2002 to accommodate the growing membership; in 2006, the church added a multi-purpose and educational center to their facility; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond's leadership endeavors include serving as an Associate Minister of Second Baptist Church for more than six years, as an assistant Sunday School superintendent, as a spiritual advisor to several church organizations, as president of the Junior Ushers Board, and as coach for the church's sports teams; he has also designed and led many religious workshops; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond has held numerous leadership positions within community organizations, including National Alumni President of Xavier University of Louisiana and serving on the Board of Governors' at Xavier University, the Board of Trustees at Judson University, the Board of Directors of the United Way of Elgin, the Board of Directors of the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease, the Hospital and Advocate Healthcare Corporate Board, and the Board of Directors of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, as well as serving as Basileus; and

WHEREAS, As a member of the Board of Directors at Sherman Hospital, Pastor Edmond helped oversee the construction and completion of a 255 bed "Green" hospital with a 15-acre geothermal lake; this lake is expected to save the hospital $1 million annually in heating and cooling costs; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond has been a member of the Enhancing Elgin Committee, the Elgin Chamber, the Implementation Review Committee, the Finance Review Committee for the U-46 School District, the NAACP of Greater Elgin, the African American Christian Minister's Alliance of Elgin, the Golf Course Planning Committee of the City of Elgin, and the United Way of Elgin; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award for the City of Elgin, the distinguished Volunteer Award for the U-46 School District, the Quad County Urban League Outstanding Religious Leader Award, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Community Impact Award for Leadership, the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club of Elgin, the Partner in Peace Award from the Community Crisis Center for Domestic Violence, the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin Distinguished Citizen Award, the Golden Eagle Award from Judson University, and the Lasting Impact Award from the Black Student Association of Elgin Community College District 509; and

WHEREAS, On December 11, 20l0, Judson University of Elgin bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology on Pastor Edmond; and

WHEREAS, Currently, Pastor Edmond serves as a spiritual advisor to U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi; since 2017, Pastor Edmond has served as the chairman of the Mission and Spiritual Care Committee of Advocate Healthcare Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond is married to Christine Dargin Edmond, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Natonya (Jerry) McClay and Adrienne (Collies) Anderson; they are the equally proud grandparents of Colin Tierre, Kayli Simone, Layla Jordyn, Christiana Chantel, and Ceana Christin; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Edmond has stated that his greatest privilege and pleasure in life is serving others; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Reverend Dr. Nathaniel L. Edmond on his retirement from Second Baptist Church of Elgin, and we wish him all the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Edmond as an expression of our respect and esteem.