HONORING PASTOR RONALD G. TONEY, SR.;
April 1, 2020
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated
husband, loving father, community activist and an outstanding Man of
God, Pastor Ronald G. Toney, Sr., who is celebrating his 25th
anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church
in Macon, Georgia. An anniversary worship service was held on Sunday,
April 8, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the church located at 1180 Bartlett Street
in Macon, Georgia.
husband, loving father, community activist and an outstanding Man of
God, Pastor Ronald G. Toney, Sr., who is celebrating his 25th
anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church
in Macon, Georgia. An anniversary worship service was held on Sunday,
April 8, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the church located at 1180 Bartlett Street
in Macon, Georgia.
Pastor Toney was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the union of Mr.
Elijah and Mrs. Mary Toney. He graduated Cum Laude from Morehouse
College in 1985 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in
Religion and a minor in Psychology. Always seeking to improve the craft
of Christian ministry and discipleship, he furthered his studies at The
Interdenominational Theological Center and Columbia Theological
Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia.
Elijah and Mrs. Mary Toney. He graduated Cum Laude from Morehouse
College in 1985 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in
Religion and a minor in Psychology. Always seeking to improve the craft
of Christian ministry and discipleship, he furthered his studies at The
Interdenominational Theological Center and Columbia Theological
Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia.
Pastor Toney received the most important calling in his life in 1976
as a minister of the gospel. He served as assistant minister at Greater
Galilee Baptist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before serving as
assistant pastor of Damascus Baptist Church in Milwaukee from 1979 to
1981; associate minister of Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia
from 1981 to 1985; and pastor of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in
Thomson, Georgia from 1985 to 1993. On April 11, 1993, he answered the
call to serve the Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church, where he has served for
the past twenty-five years. Under Pastor Toney's leadership, the
foundation of the church and the size of the congregation have grown
tremendously.
as a minister of the gospel. He served as assistant minister at Greater
Galilee Baptist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before serving as
assistant pastor of Damascus Baptist Church in Milwaukee from 1979 to
1981; associate minister of Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia
from 1981 to 1985; and pastor of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in
Thomson, Georgia from 1985 to 1993. On April 11, 1993, he answered the
call to serve the Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church, where he has served for
the past twenty-five years. Under Pastor Toney's leadership, the
foundation of the church and the size of the congregation have grown
tremendously.
Although Pastor Toney's official title is Pastor of Lizzie Chapel
Baptist Church, he quickly realized that a true minister of the gospel
must take the ministry to the people. Shirley Chisholm once said that,
``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on
this earth.'' Pastor Toney has paid his rent and he has paid it well.
Under his leadership, the church has created and grown ministries that
have accomplished this very important purpose. These ministries
include: Love's Attic, Community Thanksgiving, Community Scholarship,
Angel Tree, and the church's Evangelism Ministry. The church also has
community partnerships with the Macon Rescue Mission and Ingram/Pye
Elementary School. He is founder and President of Ministry Addressing
Neighbor Needs Abundantly, Inc. (MANNA), an organization dedicated to
improving the lives of people that live in the Barlett Crossing/
Cherokee Heights Community--one of Macon's most economically
disadvantaged communities. He is an active member of many other
religious-affiliated and other community-based organizations where he
continuously pours his time and energy into his community, including:
Haitian Empowerment of Life Project (HELP); Co-Founder and President of
Gifts of Grace Foundation; Second Vice Moderator for Union Baptist
Missionary and Educational Association of Middle Georgia; Foreign
Mission Director for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of
Georgia; First Vice President of the Sixth District for General
Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia; and an Instructor for the
Congress of Christian Education. He also serves on the Board of
Directors of Crisis Line Safe House, the Family Counseling Center, and
Living Waters Recovery Home for Women.
Baptist Church, he quickly realized that a true minister of the gospel
must take the ministry to the people. Shirley Chisholm once said that,
``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on
this earth.'' Pastor Toney has paid his rent and he has paid it well.
Under his leadership, the church has created and grown ministries that
have accomplished this very important purpose. These ministries
include: Love's Attic, Community Thanksgiving, Community Scholarship,
Angel Tree, and the church's Evangelism Ministry. The church also has
community partnerships with the Macon Rescue Mission and Ingram/Pye
Elementary School. He is founder and President of Ministry Addressing
Neighbor Needs Abundantly, Inc. (MANNA), an organization dedicated to
improving the lives of people that live in the Barlett Crossing/
Cherokee Heights Community--one of Macon's most economically
disadvantaged communities. He is an active member of many other
religious-affiliated and other community-based organizations where he
continuously pours his time and energy into his community, including:
Haitian Empowerment of Life Project (HELP); Co-Founder and President of
Gifts of Grace Foundation; Second Vice Moderator for Union Baptist
Missionary and Educational Association of Middle Georgia; Foreign
Mission Director for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of
Georgia; First Vice President of the Sixth District for General
Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia; and an Instructor for the
Congress of Christian Education. He also serves on the Board of
Directors of Crisis Line Safe House, the Family Counseling Center, and
Living Waters Recovery Home for Women.
George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends
on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong
because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Pastor
Toney has gone far in life because his everlasting faith in the Lord is
vivid testimony of His greatness to all whom he encounters. His love
and commitment to Christ is reflected in his compassionate leadership,
which makes him a guiding light within the community. He is an humble
man who always puts himself in the shoes of others. It has been said
that, ``The true person of success is not the person that climbs the
ladder of this life with two hands, but climbs the ladder of this life
with one hand and reaches back with the other.'' Pastor Toney has
always climbed the ladder of life with an eye towards helping others to
reach their full potential, both spiritually and socially.
on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong
because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Pastor
Toney has gone far in life because his everlasting faith in the Lord is
vivid testimony of His greatness to all whom he encounters. His love
and commitment to Christ is reflected in his compassionate leadership,
which makes him a guiding light within the community. He is an humble
man who always puts himself in the shoes of others. It has been said
that, ``The true person of success is not the person that climbs the
ladder of this life with two hands, but climbs the ladder of this life
with one hand and reaches back with the other.'' Pastor Toney has
always climbed the ladder of life with an eye towards helping others to
reach their full potential, both spiritually and socially.
Pastor Toney has achieved much in his life but none of it would be
possible without the grace of God and the love and support of his wife,
Patricia, their children, Jason, LaTai, Ronald, Jr., and Erika; their
nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
possible without the grace of God and the love and support of his wife,
Patricia, their children, Jason, LaTai, Ronald, Jr., and Erika; their
nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and
me, along with the congregation of Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church, and
the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional
District in extending our sincerest congratulations to the Pastor
Ronald Gene Toney, Sr. A man of great accomplishment, he is an
outstanding mentor and strong leader, but above all, he is a faithful
servant of God who climbs ``Jacob's Ladder'' on a daily basis to make
this world a better place to live for all of God's children.
me, along with the congregation of Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church, and
the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional
District in extending our sincerest congratulations to the Pastor
Ronald Gene Toney, Sr. A man of great accomplishment, he is an
outstanding mentor and strong leader, but above all, he is a faithful
servant of God who climbs ``Jacob's Ladder'' on a daily basis to make
this world a better place to live for all of God's children.