[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE ON THE OCCASION OF BISHOP J. DREW SHEARD'S ASCENSION TO THE 
              GENERAL BOARD OF THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 26, 2013

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my 
friend, Bishop J. Drew Sheard of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church 
of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan, as his family, friends and 
congregation celebrate his ascension to the General Board of the Church 
of God in Christ.
  As the son of minister Bishop John H. Sheard, J. Drew Sheard accepted 
the teachings and salvation of Christ early in his life. He later 
heeded the call to the Ministry and was guided by his father to develop 
his leadership skills. The lessons he learned as he worked diligently 
in his local church are ones that he has carried with him in service to 
both the Greater Detroit region and the Church of God in Christ's 
international organization.
  Bishop Sheard was called to the Pastorate of Greater Emmanuel in 
1988, a time of challenge for the congregation. Bishop Sheard 
immediately got to work, organizing and mobilizing the small but 
devoted membership of his congregation and as a result, the 
congregation began to grow significantly. As the pastor of Greater 
Emmanuel, Bishop Sheard has implemented a number of new and innovate 
programs, which include a TV ministry, an annual Youth and Women's 
Conference and Greater Emmanuel Men's Society. These programs more 
actively engaged the congregation in the community, strengthening the 
social fabric of the Southeast Michigan region. Bishop Sheard has also 
emphasized the importance of working with other denominations to 
provide programs that serve the community and offer support to those in 
need, which has earned him a reputation as a leader that is capable of 
building bridges within the Greater Detroit community.
  While serving as pastor to Greater Emmanuel, Bishop Sheard has also 
been an active leader in the larger Church of God in Christ (COGIC) 
organization. From 1997-2000, he served the COGIC as the president of 
its International Youth Department, where he worked with youth to 
create a peer mentoring program and developed programs for young men 
and women that promote strong education, bravery, discipline and 
spiritual development. In his current positions within the larger CGC 
organization, Bishop Sheard serves as Chairman of the Auxiliaries in 
Ministries, Superintendent of the Emmanuel District and Administrative 
Assistance of the North Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of 
Michigan.
  Mr. Speaker, Bishop J. Drew Sheard's service as pastor to the 
congregation of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ 
and his leadership in the Greater Detroit region have done much to 
strengthen the community. I congratulate him on his elevation to the 
General Board of the Church of God in Christ and look forward to 
continuing to work with him to improve the quality-of-life and vitality 
of our community in Southeast Michigan and many other communities 
around the world.

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