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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Pastor Christopher T.
4"Chris" Harris Sr. on the anniversary of his serving as senior
5pastor at Bright Star Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in
6Chicago for the past 23 years; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris was born to Ezekiel Simpson and
8Patricia Ann Harris in Chicago on April 1, 1974, and he has
9been a member of Bright Star COGIC since birth; he graduated
10from Tabernacle Christian Academy in 1992; he then attended
11Olive-Harvey College and the Moody Bible Institute; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris was appointed first assistant of
13Bright Star COGIC on October 19, 1997; he was appointed senior
14pastor on November 18, 1999; he has also served as minister of
15music at a number of churches across various denominations for
16over 16 years, including Bright Star COGIC, St. Elizabeth
17Catholic Church, and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Under Pastor Harris' leadership, Bright Star
19COGIC has increased to more than 1,250 parishioners; recently,
20he oversaw the partnership of the church and Howard Johnson to
21vaccinate over 800 people and support thousands of families in
22housing, utilities, and food throughout the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

 

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1and
 
2    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit
3Bright Star Community Outreach (BSCO) in 2009 to provide
4anti-violence programs to youth and families; his organization
5has operated with a budget of over five million dollars,
6provided employment to more than 450 people, collaborated with
7over 105 organizations in the greater Bronzeville community,
8and expanded in July 2017 with the creation of its Trauma
9Helpline; he has also created and led the Greater Bronzeville
10Community Action Plan through BSCO, where more than 50
11Bronzeville organizations are collaboratively partnering to
12make an impact on violence and trauma; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris developed The Urban Resilience
14Network (TURN) Center in 2013 to address the violence and
15trauma that was evident in Bronzeville; his center endeavors
16to focus on five core competencies, including counseling,
17parenting, mentorship, work-force development, and advocacy;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, During his career, Pastor Harris has ministered
20in over 24 countries; he has led six trips to Israel, including
21leading more than 70 faith leaders to the Holy Lands; he has
22traveled the country, building bridges between African
23American and Jewish clergy and communities; he has also taught

 

 

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1students on various college campuses of the importance of
2Black and Jewish relations; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris was appointed district
4superintendent of the Bread of Heaven District in 2002,
5becoming one of the youngest pastors to hold this prestigious
6position in the COGIC organization in Illinois; he also served
7on the Board of Bishops for the Abundant Harvest Fellowship of
8Churches for six years; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris serves as the chairman of the
10Bronzeville Community Action Council and as a member of the
11University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) Community Advisory
12Council; he has previously served as a member of the American
13Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) National Council and
14as president of the 4th Ward and Cook County Clergy
15Coalitions; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris has received numerous awards for
17his leadership and community service, including the Decalogue
18Society of Lawyers Community Service 2013 Award, the Alpha
19Epsilon Pi Fraternity Congressman Eliot Engel 2015-2016 Award,
20the 2nd Annual Israel-Midwest Bridge 2016 Award, the African
21American History Month 2017 Award, the State of Illinois
22Treasurer Outstanding Commitment Community Service 2018 Award,
23the NAMI Chicago Light the Darkness Faith Based Leader of the

 

 

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1Year 2018 Award, and many more; he was also chosen to be part
2of the Foundation Executive Fellows Program in 2019 and was
3selected to be a Leadership Greater Chicago 2021 Fellow; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Pastor Harris married Johanna "JoJo" Harris on
5September 18, 2010; he is the father of Chrystal, Chris Jr.,
6Christian, and Christiana and the godfather of Keshon;
7therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
9HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
10we congratulate Pastor Christopher T. "Chris" Harris on the
11anniversary of his serving as senior pastor at Bright Star
12Church of God in Christ (COGIC) for the past 23 years; and be
13it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to Pastor Harris as a symbol of our esteem and
16respect.