HR0247 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0247 LRB096 12234 KXB 25041 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Reverend Howard Wills, Sr., of the Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Kankakee, on his 25th anniversary as a pastor; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Howard L. Wills, Sr., was born in Chicago, the fifth child of Reverend Joseph and Eliza Wills; as early as 10 years old Pastor Wills knew he was destined to be a preacher; in preparation for this calling on his life, he was converted at age 10 and baptized by Reverend Hezekiah Brady Sr.; and

WHEREAS, As a young man he worked with the Sunday School ministry as a teacher and superintendent, Baptist Training Union, Choir Ministry, and Junior Deacon Ministry; in 1969 he was drafted into the United States Army and served two years, including a tour of duty in Vietnam; in 1973 he married Carol A. Riley and God blessed them with two sons, Howard, Jr., and Devin Christopher; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Wills accepted his calling to preach in 1977; to equip himself for the work of preaching God's word he attended Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee, Kankakee Community College, Chicago Baptist Institute, Moody Bible Institute, and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia; he has been a member of the B.E.S.T. Conference of Los Angeles, California for 13 years, which specializes in the study of Greek and Hebrew; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Wills began pastoring the Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church February 12, 1984, after eleven years as Assistant Pastor under his father Reverend Joseph Wills, Sr.; he has pastored the Greater New Hope Church for 25 years, where he has been instrumental in raising the standards for the church community and building a $1.6 million edifice to accommodate a growing congregation and ministry; and

WHEREAS, In the last 25 years he has helped to organize the Chris Lloyd Scholarship Foundation, clothing ministry, food ministry, and the Outreach Ministry at the River Valley Supportive Living facility; under his leadership the church has purchased several properties on Cottage Avenue and Cedar Street for future building plans; Pastor Wills has held various positions in civic and denominational organizations, serving as President of the Minister's Alliance of Kankakee County, Assistant Dean of Religion for the Baptist General State Convention of Illinois, and Chairman of Membership for the Baptist General State Convention of Illinois; and he was a member of the Federal Loan Review Committee, a board member of United Way Organization, as well as a board member and organizer of the Dr. Martin Luther King Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Wills has always had a love and a passion for teaching and preaching God's Word and for pastoring the people of God; like his father, he is truly a man committed to God's calling and His vision; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Reverend Wills on twenty-five years of service to the church and community and wish him all the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Howard L. Wills, Sr., as a symbol of our respect and esteem.