HR0891 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0891 LRB097 20942 GRL 68057 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor Walstone Elisha Francis for his work as a pastor; and

WHEREAS, Walstone Francis is a native of Nassau, Bahamas; he was born on January 9, 1953; his parents are Drs. Earle and Marjorie Francis; he became a United States citizen on July 19, 1994; and

WHEREAS, Walstone Francis received his elementary and high school education in Nassau; he accepted Christ at the age of 17; in 1971, he was licensed to preach by his father Dr. Earle Francis of the First Baptist Church in Nassau; he came to the United States that same year; and

WHEREAS, Walstone Francis earned his Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Arts Degrees from American Baptist College of American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee; he later earned his honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Selma University in Selma, Alabama in 1989; and

WHEREAS, On February 28, 1974, Walstone Francis was ordained in the Gospel Ministry by Rev. Wellington A. Johnson. Sr., then Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Smyrna, Tennessee; he served as Pastor of Mt. View Baptist Church in Smyrna, Tennessee from 1974 to 1979, and the Alpha Missionary Baptist Church in Franklin, Kentucky from 1980 to 1992; on January 8, 1992, he was called to pastor the Shiloh Baptist Church of Waukegan; he accepted the call on January 26, 1992 and assumed the pastorate on March 1, 1992; on May 3, 1992, he was officially installed as pastor by Dr. Earle Francis and Pastor Wellington Johnson; and

WHEREAS, Walstone Francis has served with numerous religious organizations, including the Franklin-Simpson Ministerial Fellowship, the Sunday Church School and Baptist Training Union Congress of the National Baptist Convention of America; Young Adult Sunday School Quarterly, the National Baptist Publishing Board of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, the Committee on Uniform Series, Education for Christian Life and Mission of the Division of the National Council of Churches, U.S.A., and the New Era District Association of Chicago & Vicinity; he has served as a volunteer Chaplain at Victory Memorial Hospital, St. Theresa Hospital, and the Lake County Jail in Waukegan; in August of 2003, he was appointed to the Waukegan Civil Service Commission by Mayor Richard Hyde; in 2009, he resigned as instructor of the Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; he has also been a member of the NAACP, the Human Rights Commission in Franklin, Kentucky, and the Barren River Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board in Howling Green, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Walstone Francis currently serves as an instructor at the Christian Leadership School of the Baptist General State Congress of Christian Education; he is the Chairman of Foreign Missions for the Baptist General State Convention of Illinois; he is an adult writer for the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; he is also an organizer and former Moderator of the Lake Shore Baptist District in Waukegan and Vicinity; and

WHEREAS, Walstone Francis is well known within the Christian ministry as a passionate and effective pastor, preacher, and teacher of the gospel, whose special gifts in his knowledge of the Word and ability to explain the Scriptures for easy comprehension are beyond comparison; and

WHEREAS, Walstone Francis has been married to his loving wife, Mrs. Angelia Rene Otey Williams; the special family that the Lord has given them is composed of Ronald (deceased), Angelica, Diesha, Dyasha, John, Jakeyha, Shawntrice, Nigel, Cameron, Lantz, Michaela, Marion, Jamir Elisha, Jamya Rene, and Elijah Emanuel; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Walstone Elisha Francis for his work as a pastor and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Walstone Francis as a symbol of our esteem and respect.