Posted by chicagomedia.org on November 09, 2008 at 15:45:52:
Chicago Heights pastor wears two hats to spread the word
November 9, 2008
By Becky Schlikerman, staff writer
The kids who attend New Life Baptist Church's "Bible Basketball" in Chicago Heights don't know the church's pastor, the Rev. Roy Patterson has another, pretty cool, job.
Patterson, 39, hosts three shows for the Moody Bible Institute's radio station.
There's the local program "Urban Praise" and the national programs "Celebration of Praise" and "Music for Sunday."
While his disc jockey role isn't a secret, he doesn't bring it up because he wants to keep the attention on the kids.
"I want the focus to be really on them, their lives" said Patterson, who lives on Chicago's South Side.
So with that, he wears "two hats."
Although he draws inspiration from both roles, he said he wants to keep them separate because he's reaching different types of people.
While he uses humor and current events to reach his radio audience, he uses a hands-on approach for the members of the church.
"I'm really focused on the Bible and ministering on those specific people," Patterson said.
He does that by visiting church members and talking to those who may be having problems.
Patterson's been the pastor of New Life Baptist Church for eight years. It's the first church he's been in charge of.
He was ordained eight years ago because he felt a calling to reach people and teach them about God, he said.
He knew the church's former pastor and came on because he felt comfortable in the community, Patterson said.
Plus, the economic diversity in Chicago Heights appealed to him because it was a chance to link people with different troubles, Patterson said.
"It's a need and I wanted to be in a place where we could help address a need," he said.
Patterson said he hopes to break the negative cycle young people in Chicago Heights seem to fall into, he said.
"It's real hard for a a kid to grow up in an environment that's volatile and they feel like they have to find a way to survive," Patterson said. "If their mentors are gangsters ... (and other) negative role models, there's something wrong with that."
Instead, he said he wants to impart to neighborhood kids that they can be kind, loving and successful. He also tells kids "you can be president."
(Southtown Star/Neighborhood Star)