Honorary Resolution for Pastor Earl Stephen Roberts
WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that the members of this Chamber learn of the retirement celebration for Pastor Earl Stephen Roberts, dedicated Pastor at the Garfield Park Community Worship Center in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed body has been notified of his achievements by the Honorable Jason C. Ervin, Alderman ofthe 28th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Born on July 14,1944, in Toledo, Ohio, Earl was the adored son of Melvin and Edwina Roberts and was the youngest of three siblings. Earl was raised on the West Side of Chicago and . attended Brown Elementary School, McKinley Junior High and Crane Tech High School; and
WHEREAS, It was in Earl's late teens when he entered the U.S. military. After three years of service and a promotion to a non-commissioned officer rank of sergeant, he received an honorable discharge and returned to the United States; and
WHEREAS, After his return, Earl spent five years as an avid reader passionately engaging in independent studies regarding the people, culture and civilizations of Ancient Egypt. Soon after, he decided to further his formal education at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University. He received his formal training for ministry at Great Lakes Bible College in Michigan and later received an Honorary Doctoral Degree of Divinity; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Roberts worked in the corporate world as a supervisor and manager for Oldsmobile. He also was employed as the General Manager of a chain of five restaurants for the Ponchartrain Food Company; and
WHEREAS, Earl learned the importance of worship at a young age being raised in a Christian home and attending church regularly with his family. It was in 1983 when Earl received God's call to ministerial service and in 1984 he became a full-time Pastor; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Roberts has remained Pastor of the Garfield Park Community Worship Center (GPCWC) for thirty-five years, twenty-eight of those years serving as Senior Pa...
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