The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING REV. DR. MELVIN T. JONES
______
HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Friday, February 25, 2022
Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Doctor Melvin T. Jones as the dedicated Senior Pastor of the Union Missionary Baptist Church in Lansing, Michigan. He has stood at the forefront of fighting for justice since he was a child, and continues to do so throughout the Greater Lansing community today. He is a living testimony of using one's life to serve others.
At 78 years old, Pastor Jones is a model and inspiration for generations of citizens and faith leaders in our community. He has served at Union Missionary Baptist Church for 37 years, and is often referred to as ``The Patriarch,'' because nothing happens in the Lansing community without seeking his wisdom, guidance, and support.
Every community has a guiding light, that someone who serves as the force to bring others together to drive change, and in the Lansing faith community, that someone is Pastor Melvin T. Jones. More than a decade ago, he became founder and Chairman of GLADE, currently known as ACTION of Greater Lansing, an interdenominational justice ministry of churches. Pastor Jones has served as President of The Greater Lansing Clergy Forum, Co-President of ACTION of Greater Lansing, and most recently helped shape the Assembly of Lansing Pastors to address gun violence.
He has received numerous awards and honors, both civic and national including an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Dallas Baptist Christian College, and he is currently completing a Doctor of Ministry degree program at Ashland Theological Seminary.
Pastor Jones has accomplished all of this while still devoting himself to his family: his wife Sallie of more than 50 years, and their five grown children.
As Pastor Jones prepares for retirement, he will be remembered for his faithful leadership that positively changed the direction of the city and impacted individuals and families for the better. He will be known for the inspiration and love he brought to Lansing, but also for the many pastoral leaders he mentored over many decades.
I have no doubt that even after retirement he will continue to be a voice for Lansing, and a strong supporter for those in need. While we will miss his voice in the house of worship, it is my great honor to record his many good works in so that they may live forever.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 35
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