HR1051 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1051 LRB096 21746 KXB 39473 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Pastor Lavell (L.V.) Jenkins, of the Greater Christian Unity Missionary Baptist Church in Robbins, on his years of service and his retirement; and

WHEREAS, He was born the tenth child of thirteen to Pastor Sam and Mrs. Estelle Jenkins; together with three brothers, two nephews, and a good friend, Lavell formed the group "The Spiritual Travelers"; at the choir's anniversary of the Universal Baptist Church on Chicago's Westside, Lavell met his wife of now over 50 years, Mary A. Jenkins; and

WHEREAS, On April 3, 1960, he was ordained as a deacon at the Obedient Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor James G. Lewis; on February 27, 1972 Deacon Jenkins became Reverend Lavell Jenkins, under Pastor James Lark; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Jenkins was called to the Greater Christian Unity Missionary Baptist Church, as Pastor, on April 14, 1974; during his tenure, the church has been able to pay off its first mortgage, renovate the restrooms to accommodate the handicap, and purchase pews and additional land; and

WHEREAS, In the spring of 2006, the church paid tribute to Pastor Jenkins by naming the dining hall the "Reverend L. V. Jenkins Fellowship Hall" in recognition of his hard work and dedication to the ministry; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Pastor Lavell Jenkins has not only served Greater Christian Unity but also the community of Robbins; with the ministry at heart, he studied at the Chicago Baptist Institute to further increase his knowledge of the Word; and

WHEREAS, He has been a part of the South Suburban Ministers Alliance, Robbins Ministers Conference, and the Westside Ministers Conference of Chicago; in the 1960s, Pastor Jenkins marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders from Chicago's Grant Park to Chicago City Hall; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Pastor Jenkins on his retirement and honor him for his years of service to the people of the Greater Christian Unity Missionary Baptist Church and the community of Robbins; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Lavell Jenkins as a symbol of our respect and esteem.