LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Reverend Victor T. Hall, Sr. upon the
occasion of his 24th Anniversary as Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life in
this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the faithful
concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their energies
and purpose to the ministry of others; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Reverend
Victor T. Hall, Sr. upon the occasion of his 24th Anniversary as Pastor
of the Calvary Baptist Church, in Jamaica, Queens, to be celebrated on
Sunday, May 17, 2015; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, Salutatorian Victor T. Hall, Sr. graduated with both
Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta honors from Morehouse College, Atlan-
ta, Georgia; he then went on to graduate from the Union Theological
Seminary, New York City; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduating from seminary school, Victor T. Hall, Sr.
furthered his education by attending the University of Chicago Divinity
School, as well as both the University of London, and the University of
Nanjing, China; and
WHEREAS, Victor T. Hall, Sr. has been the recipient of numerous reli-
gious studies awards and accolades, including the William & Gertrude
Jackson Award, the E.K. Bailey Theological Award, the coveted Benjamin
E. Mays Fellowship, and the CIC Minority Fellowship; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Victor T. Hall, Sr. earned his license to preach; he
was then ordained into the priesthood; and
WHEREAS, Prior to leading the Calvary Baptist Church, Reverend Victor
T. Hall, Sr. was the Pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church, the oldest
African-American Christian Witness in Dallas; in addition, he served as
Associate Minister at the Union Baptist Church in Atlanta, and held the
position of Staff Assistant on the Black Theology Project in New York;
and
WHEREAS, In 1990, Reverend Victor T. Hall, Sr. became the Pastor of
Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens; as its 10th Pastor, he
focuses on impacting the Jamaica community with programs which benefit
children, youth, parents, seniors, and the incarcerated; and
WHEREAS, Under his capable leadership, the Calvary Baptist Church has
grown tremendously in membership, finances, and ministries; and
WHEREAS, The Calvary Baptist Church expanded its ministries by erect-
ing a 101-unit Senior Citizen Housing Complex; today, the Calvary
Baptist Church has embarked upon a large renovation and extension
project known as Project Beautiful, and is building a grandparent's
housing complex which will become the home to seniors and low-income
grandparents who have legal custody of their grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, In 1993, Pastor Victor T. Hall, Sr. helped to bring a full-
time youth ministry to fruition; the Imani Youth Ministry has worked to
encourage and promote outreach programs to thousands of children and
youth throughout both New York City and Long Island; and
WHEREAS, This vital organization encourages urban youth to leave the
streets and better themselves by attending colleges across the nation;
and
WHEREAS, Pastor Victor T. Hall, Sr. also aided in the establishment of
a food pantry, which feeds hundreds of people each week; and
WHEREAS, Through Pastor Victor T. Hall, Sr.'s vision, Calvary Baptist
Church is home to a plethora of community and outreach ministries,
including a Prison Ministry, which has supported hundreds of inmates at
Riker's Island, and its Angle Tree Program which has strengthened chil-
dren and families of the incarcerated; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Calvary Baptist Church has continued its work
with patients at Creedmor Psychiatric Center, and through the American
Heart Association, it sponsors an Annual Walk Against Cancer; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Calvary Baptist Church annually supports Chris-
tian mission trips to India, Africa, the Caribbean, and China; in 2008,
Pastor Hall led 40 members of his congregation on a tour of Israel,
where he gave a speech on race relations in the Israeli Knesset; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Hall is also a life-time member of the NAACP, and for
over 15 years, he has served as a Lieutenant Captain for the Metropol-
itan Transit Authority Police, ministering to police officers and their
families; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Pastor Hall is a member of numerous organizations,
including Clergy United for Community Empowerment, the Baptist
Minister's Conference of New York and Vicinity, the Eastern Baptist
Association, The Empire State Baptist Convention of New York, the Ameri-
can Baptist Churches USA, The National Baptist Convention USA, and the
Progressive National Baptist Convention; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, Marvlieu Jolla Hall,
and his children, Victor II, Nia, and Ayanna, all of whom feel privi-
leged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given enlightenment,
guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and has adminis-
tered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of
all; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Reverend Victor T. Hall, Sr., noting his unremitting and compas-
sionate faith and his exemplary service to God, man, and his community,
and extending to him the heartfelt best wishes of this Legislative Body
for a future of purposeful success and well-being; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend Victor T. Hall, Sr.