The Rev. Dr. L. Bernard Jakes serves as Senior Pastor of The faith family of West Point Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. He received his elementary education at Nicholas Copernicus and secondary education at Marie Curie Metropolitan of the Performing and Creative Arts High School. Furthering his education, he received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois; the Master of Arts degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

As Senior Pastor of The faith family of West Point Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Jakes has witnessed numerous spiritual, financial, and administrative successes in the last seventeen (17) years. His most notable was establishing the Operation H.O.P.E. Food and Clothing Pantry and the West Point Community Development Corporation. These initiatives were inspired after it became apparent the community in which he serves needed food and clothing to supplement their daily needs. By 2008, after only being in operation for three years, the pantry served over 19,000 people and has averaged 20,000 to 22,000 annually. In 2009, Dr. Jakes birthed a vision initiating the Domestic Violence and Advocacy (DVA) Ministry at The faith family of West Point Missionary Baptist Church. DVA is dedicated to improving the lives of men, women, and children, who experience violence by providing support, love, and comfort to persons involved in abusive relationships. For the last ten years, the DVA Ministry has hosted Dare to Care Community Festival and Resource Fair, servicing an average of 2,500 community members each year.

Dr. Jakes is highly involved with local, state and federal policymakers—utilizing his voice as a local pastor to speak truth to power as it relates to social justice, social action, and social

accountability. His passion, commitment, and unwavering voice for social justice have led to policymakers seeking his voice and support on statewide issues such as sensible gun laws, support for same-gender marriage, increasing the minimum wage, education funding reform, etc. Locally, Dr. Jakes proudly served as a working member of The Mayor’s Commission for a Safer Chicago under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and on the transition team for Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Currently, he is a working member of the Faith-Based Leaders Advisory Board of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office and was appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to serve as a board member for Chicago Transit Authority. Dr. Jakes is a member of the Board of Trustees for Elmhurst College, as well as serves as an inaugural member of the President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Elmhurst College. Additionally, he serves as spiritual advisor to several local and state politicians.

Dr. Jakes’ voice and commitment to the less fortunate has earned him national recognition from the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show by presenting him with The Biggest Giver Award for community excellence. His commitment to social justice, coupled with his humanitarian efforts led to his induction into the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of International Preachers of Morehouse College. Dr. Jakes is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity, Incorporated, the Ancient Free and Accepted Scottish Rites Masons of North America, and a host of other civic and religious organizations.

The Rev. Dr. L. Bernard Jakes shares his life and ministry with Lady Carole Denise, their two
children, Brandon and Erika, and their four-legged children, Taylor and Elizabeth.