Honoring and commending The Reverend Andrew James Ford, Jr. for his spiritual and entrepenuerial leadership in, and commitment to, Nicetown-Tioga and the Philadelphia community at large.

WHEREAS,

Elder Ford received his early spiritual training and development, being baptized at the age of twelve and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost at fifteen, in the Apostolic Church. He answered the call to ministry in 1984, received ministerial guidance from his father, and then Pastor. God has richly blessed his ministry and has allowed him to travel the country preaching the Gospel; and,

WHEREAS,

Elder Ford, succeeding his father, the Late Bishop Andrew Ford, Sr., after his untimely death, into the pastorship of Highway Church of God, renamed Ford Memorial Tabernacle in honor of its founders, Bishop and Mother Ford. He is a man anointed by God and, through his teaching and preaching, many souls have been blessed and brought to Christ; and,

WHEREAS,

In 1994, Elder Ford instituted a religious conference where people from various ecumenical backgrounds could unite to praise and worship the Lord together. The mission of this conference- to bridge denominational, racial and ethnic barriers within the Body of Christ- was embodied within the first annual Next Generation Ministries Fellowship Convocation. After five years, the conference features dynamic speakers from across the country and numerous major popular gospel music recording artists ministering to more than six thousand (6,000) attendees over a nine-day period; and,

WHEREAS

, Besides being the executive project coordinator of the

Singsation!

Gospel television program and production manager for the

I Like It Communications

based in Chicago, Elder Ford has utilized his God-given music talent and abilities to launch the careers of gospel music choirs, groups and soloists and gain national respect as an accomplished record producer and entrepreneur; and,

WHEREAS

, His dedication to the nurturing of the spirit without neglecting the need to economically empower the masses symbolizes his true understanding of the “need to feed both the body and the soul.” Such exemplary personal, professional and spiritual characteristics have not gone unnoticed for, on March 25, 2000, Elder Ford will be consecrated to the sacred office of Bishop in the Lord’s Church in the Episcopal Services of Consecration and Installation; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend the Reverend Andrew James Ford, Jr. for his spiritual and entrepreneurial leadership in, and commitment to, Nicetown -Tioga and the Philadelphia community at large.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Reverend Andrew James Ford, Jr. upon, or soon thereafter, his consecration and elevation to Bishop in the Lord’s Church as evidence of the respect and sincere regard of this legislative body and in recognition of his continued commitment to uplifting the human spirit and responding to its multiplicity of needs.

End