RESOLUTION HONORING PASTOR MICHAEL EADDY
WHEREAS, Superintendent Michael Eaddy, Pastor of the People's Church of the Harvest Church of God in Christ, has been reelected to a third term as Chairman for the General Council of Pastors and Elders and received a jurisdictional elevation to First Administrative Assistant to Bishop Ocie Booker, Prelate of First Jurisdiction Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of Pastor Eaddy's achievements by the Honorable Jason C. Ervin, Alderman of the 28th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Following in the footsteps of his great-uncle, Pastor Lawrence Parks, and his father, Pastor William Eaddy, Pastor Michael Eaddy has served as the pastor of the People's Church of the Harvest for 43 years, alongside his wife, First Lady Christine Rose Eaddy; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Eaddy's dedication and vision motivate him to initiate and develop numerous programs and services to meet the needs of youth, adults, and suffering humanity, and under his leadership, the People's Church of the Harvest COGIC has extended a holistic ministry to its membership and residents of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs; and
WHEREAS, With a passion for alleviating the downward plight of individuals, empowering people to reach their fullest potential and realize their life purpose, Pastor Eaddy has lead the church to establish countless programs and services that directly improve people's lives, including before and after school care, tutoring, computer literacy classes, career counseling, summer youth employment, distributing new shoes, back-to-school grants, HIV/AIDS awareness programs, drug abuse prevention and anti-violence activities, G.E.D. classes, rental assistance and emergency aid, information and referral services for destitute families, food distribution, financial literacy education, and utility bill payment assistance for seniors, disabled individuals, and those whose utilities service has been disconnected; and
WHEREAS, Through both his evangelistic and para-church ministries, thousands have been compelled to turn to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; Pastor Eaddy's leadership has produced 14 pastors and hundreds of other ministry workers, each impacting their communities and the world, and conducting outreach and evangelistic crusades through the years; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Eaddy also has an extensive service history in the Church of God in Christ as an active District Superintendent, Jurisdictional Secretary and Executive Assistant to the late Second Elected Presiding Bishop Louis Henry Ford, and until his jurisdictional elevation, as Third Administrative Assistant to Bishop Ocie Booker in the First Jurisdiction of Illinois; Superintendent Eaddy also served as the International Executive Director of Scholastic Motivation Ministries for 24 years until he was elected Chairman of the General Council of Pastors and Elders of the Church of God in Christ in 2014, where he provides leadership to over 12,000 pastors and 43,000 elders internationally; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Eaddy has been recognized nationally for his service to God, including being conferred Honorary Doctorates of Divinity from St. Thomas Christian College & Theological Seminary in 2019 and from Charles Harrison Mason College in 2019; and
WHEREAS, But Pastor Eaddy's commitment to service extends beyond the walls of any church; over the years, he has served his community and his City as a member of the Chicago Police Board, a Commissioner of the Illinois Medical District, and as the President of the People's Community Development Association of Chicago, Inc. (PCDAC); and
WHEREAS, PCDAC, under Pastor Eaddy's leadership, has operated an ex-offender re-entry program, providing job training and placement that has served over 4,000 participants since 2001, constructed Harvest Homes Apartments, a 36-unit affordable housing development with plans for a second phase including additional affordable units and a food hall, and launched the Lazarus Project, renovating single family and two-flat residences in East Garfield Park and North Lawndale, providing needed affordable housing and employment opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Michael Eaddy has been anointed with an exceptional ability to teach the unadulterated Word of God and the practical application of biblical principles for successful living; his enlightening revelations of scripture and passion serve to uplift and empower the people of his ministry, his community, and his City; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this thirty-first day of May, 2023, do hereby declare June 15, 2023 as "Dr. Michael Eaddy Day" in honor of the occasion of his reelection as Chairman for the General Council of Pastors and Elders and a jurisdictional elevation to First Administrative Assistant to Bishop Ocie Booker, Prelate of First Jurisdiction Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Michael Eaddy as token of our esteem and respect.
JASON C. ERVIN Alderman, 28th Ward