CONGRATULATING GOD FIRST CHURCH AND MINISTRIES FOUNDER AND CEO, DR. MILDRED C. HARRIS ON 40 YEARS OF SERVICE
WHEREAS, God First Church and Ministries will celebrate forty years of service at a "Community Breakfast" on Saturday, April 6, 2019, in the International Ballroom, Hilton Chicago Hotel, in the joyous company of over fifteen-hundred supporters; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed body has been informed of this momentous occasion by the Honorable Carrie M. Austin, Alderman of the 34th Ward and Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations; and
WHEREAS, God First Church and Ministries is a not-for-profit community based organization, founded forty years ago by Dr. Mildred C. Harris, to pray for the needs of others. The ministry began with only a handful of women located in the Chicagoland area who traveled weekly to different locations for their prayer service; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mildred C. Harris, affectionately referred to as "Mother in Zion", is widely known as a pioneer, an inspiring and effective organizer, and a beloved spiritual leader. Over the years, Dr. Harris has brought together thousands of people for the purpose of building the Body of Christ and investing in the development and wellbeing of her hometown of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Harris has a well-developed reputation as a bridge-builder. She has been able to bring people of various backgrounds and cultures together, including the homeless, seniors, youth, political and business leaders, to further the Church's mission of serving diverse communities through social programs and services, and to utilize the potential of all people to the Glory of God; and
WHEREAS, Apostolically speaking, Dr. Mildred Harris has established Chapters of God First Church and Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Gary, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; and New York, New York; and
WHEREAS, In May of 2018 Dr. Mildred Harris led a prayer over the City of Chicago's police and municipality leaders, alongside Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Superintendent Eddie Johnson, and more than two-thousand attendees; and
WHEREAS, Our great City of Chicago is enriched by the presence and motivating influence of its great religious leaders and institutions; now, therefore
BE IT RESOL VED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this tenth day of April, 2019, do hereby extend our gratitude and heartiest congratulations to Dr. Mildred C. Harris, Founder and CEO of God First Church and Ministries and its members, as they celebrate forty years of fellowship; and, we express to this outstanding citizen and leader our wishes for much continued success; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Dr. Mildred C. Harris, Founder and CEO of God First Church and Ministries.