Reverend Jocelyn Carita Thornton is the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Covenant Church-- the first African American church in
Orland Park, Illinois. Additionally, as the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Covenant Church, Pastor Thornton is also the first
woman to plant a church in The Central Conference of The Evangelical Covenant Church. Pastor Thornton has a God given
vision to impact and transform the lives of those in her community, state, and world through the power of God and the preaching
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is her prayer that through her preaching and teaching ministry men, women, and children will
come to understand how to "practice the presence of God" in every area of their lives. It is further her desire that through the use
of creative and innovative ministry, Emmanuel Covenant Church will fulfill the vision of being a "church that practices the
presence of God with us (Emmanuel) bringing hope and salvation, healing, freedom in Christ, comfort and restoration- -to the
world."

A prophetic psalmist and preacher of the Gospel, Pastor Thornton's roots lie deep in educational leadership and spiritual
development. A native of Chicago, Illinois she has faithfully worked in various church leadership positions over the past 20 years
throughout the Mideastern and Southern states, and she has had the awesome privilege of partnering and serving in leadership
positions with prominent men and women of God across this country.

Additionally, Pastor Thornton has a love for children and youth and wants to see them fulfill their God given destiny and become
all that God has called them to be. Through her vision, Emmanuel Covenant Church has recently launched The Daniel
Foundation, a ministry where boys and young men will receive spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional mentoring,
strengthening, and encouraging.

Pastor Thornton received the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in Finance, from Loyola
University of Chicago, and the Master of Divinity degree from the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology at Mercer
University in Atlanta, Georgia. A strong proponent of education, Pastor Thornton will begin the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in
Preaching Program through North Park Theological Seminary in the Summer of 2008.

In addition to her educational goals and accomplishments, Pastor Thornton also received the distinct honor of being nominated
for the 2003 Addie Davis Preaching Award; and is an alumni of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative, graduating in May 2008.
Finally, Pastor Thornton was blessed and honored to have her sermon,"You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet"published in the Spring 2007
issue of The African American Pulpit, the leading AfricanAmerican Journal of the very best of African American preaching in
this world.

Along with her service in the religious sector, Pastor Thornton has also served on several community and civic board of directors.
Presently she serves on the advisory council for BaSix Knowledge Academy, a private K-12 academy headquartered in Lithonia,
Georgia, as well as the Advisory Board of the internationally known Soul Children of Chicago.

Pastor Thornton is President & CEO of Jocelyn Thornton Ministries, a preaching and teaching ministry with the mission of
"Preaching the Gospel to Transform the World for the Kingdom of God."

Pastor Jocelyn Carita Thornton is a trailblazer and visionary; she is woman committed to a vision from God for impacting
humanity and transforming this world for the Kingdom of God.
Emmanuel Covenant Church
"...and they shall call His name Emmanuel...  God With Us"
Matthew 1:23
Our Pastor
"I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank You forever because of
what You have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim Your name
for it is good." Psalm 52:8b-9
Reverend Jocelyn Carita Thornton, BBA. M.Div.

Check out Pastor
Thornton's
"My Space" page:
www.myspace.com/pa
storjocelyn



Email Pastor Thornton
at
seniorpastor@theemm
anuelchurch.org
Emmanuel Covenant Church
Marcus Theatre . 16350 S. LaGrange Rd . Orland Park, IL 60462
P.O. Box 2205 . Orland Park, IL 60462
Office Phone: (708) 646-4782
Office Fax: (708) 364-0224


Copyright © 2008. Emmanuel Covenant Church. All rights reserved.
To invite
Pastor Thornton to
your church to
minister the Word of
God, please contact
her at (708) 646-4782
or email:
executiveassistant@the
emmanuelchurch.org