Bro. LEONARDO D. GILBERT, our 3rd Minister, remembers the preaching of the late Levi Kennedy; however, it was the late Samuel L. Jordan who served as his spiritual father and mentor. Leonardo was born on May 12, 1959 at the Provident Hospital in Chicago Illinois to two God-fearing parents: Leon Gilbert (one of the kindest, most compassionate, and people-skilled people one could ever meet) and Marie Gilbert (the hardest-working person he has ever known). He has two siblings: Vanessa Gilbert Young and Reginald Gilbert.
After graduating from high school, he chose to receive a Christian education from Michigan Christian College (now Rochester College); he went on to attend Harding University and graduated in 1981 with dual baccalaureate degrees – one in Biology and the other in Religion.
Since 1981,Bro. Leonardo D. Gilbert has served in the ministry at Sheldon Heights Church of Christ. In 1981, after graduating from Michigan Christian College with an Associated degree and from Harding University with a double major (Bible and Biology) he returned home and accepted the position of Youth Minister at Sheldon Heights under the leadership of the late, great Samuel L. Jordan. Fresh out of college, Bro. Gilbert adopted the motto, “Saved to Serve,” and that is what he did (and continues to do) as he served the Sheldon Heights Church of Christ in the Youth, Educational and Evangelism ministries. Early in his ministerial development, two of his spiritual mothers, Sis. Noveline Kennedy (wife of Levi Kennedy) and Sis. Ruth Jordan (wife of Samuel L. Jordan) really gave great encouragement and insight regarding some of the pitfalls a young preacher might face. Their advice has proven to be a rich blessing in his ministry, leadership, and service.
Bro. Gilbert has been married to Brenda LaJoyce (Nash) since June 2, 1984; they have one son, Leon Demetrius, and one granddaughter, Gabrielle Marie With a formal academic background in Composition and Rhetoric, teaching writing on an elementary, high school and college level, coupled with her strong organizational skills, and commitment to serving the Lord, Brenda has been a blessing to her husband’s ministry. She currently serves as his Administrative Assistant and the General Office Manager at Sheldon Heights. In addition, she works as a Resource Person with the Education Ministry, Chair of the Bulletin Committee, Chair of the Sister to Sister component of the Women’s Ministry, Assistant Chair of the Link Ministry, just to name a few areas of her service. Brenda says, “Like my husband, I thank God I have been ‘saved to serve,’ and like my mom, I want to use as much of my time, talents, treasures, and testimonies to serve the Lord with all my might until He calls me home.”
Having been degreed in Biology and Religion, Bro. Gilbert has been licensed and certified in Ophthalmology as a Certified Ophthalmic Technician, Electrophysiology Specialist, and Research Assistant at the University of Illinois—Chicago. He has also worked and consulted at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Ingalls Hospital, and Mercy Hospital. He has taught for over ten years for the American Academy of Ophthalmology/Joint Commission of Allied Health Professionals in Ophthalmology; he served as the first Black President of its local chapter. A passion for science enabled him to work with a research team funded by the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, fighting blindness. During this time, he was able to co-author several papers with Dr. Gerald Fishman (a world-renown Hereditary Retinal Specialist) on discovering a cure for hereditary retinal disorders. Until recently Bro. Gilbert maintained his certification in ophthalmology.
On January 2, 1995, his spiritual father, Samuel L. Jordan, made his transition from this life to that upper and better Kingdom, Bro. Gilbert was faced with the challenge of helping a congregation heal and remain hopeful for the future. He stepped into that role almost seamlessly because his mentor and father in the gospel had adequately and methodically prepared him for the ministry before the Lord passed on the mantle of ministry to his next pastoral servant at Sheldon Heights — Bro. Leonardo D. Gilbert.
Bro. Jordan had told Bro. Gilbert many times, “Your ministry will accomplish even more than my ministry.” Bro. Gilbert recalls hearing the words, but not really giving much attention to them. However, the words of Bro. Jordan continuously prove to be a blessing to Bro. Gilbert’s ministry as the Lord continues to open up doors and means to serve the church and the community.
After Bro. Jordan’s transition God blessed Leonardo richly and a new thread in the rich tapestry of ministry at this congregation began! One of the first tasks of Bro. Gilbert was to maintain the great legacy of Samuel L. Jordan, Levi Kennedy, and the Michigan Avenue/Sheldon Heights Church of Christ, which meant to change nothing but to develop a continued vision of what God would have him to do. The initial needs of the church would be to develop leaders and members who would help expand the church for the future.
Bro. Gilbert understands that all ministers of this church have their watch over this ministry for a limited and short time so we have no time to waste. Not only does the church have to be internally strengthened but also externally by having an impact in the business, political, and social communities. Bro. Gilbert is actively involved in the church and community on a number of organizations and at a number of levels, including serving as Founder and Chair of the National Teachers’ Workshop (NTW), Director of the International-American Medical Mission (IAMM), previous chair of the Greater Chicago Food Depository Board (GCFD), Founder and previous President of the Greater Roseland/West Pullman Food (GRWP) Network, member of the Local School Council at Fenger High School, Board Member of the City of Chicago Mental Health Board, and Vice Chair of the 34th Ward Ministers’ Alliance just to name a few. in 2009, he received his Masters degree, with distinction, from the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University, which has already helped him tremendously in his leadership of this congregation and the community he serves.
Under his leadership at the Sheldon Heights Church of Christ, much has been accomplished, new visions have been shared, and the work continues to grow, both locally, nationally, and internationally. Bro. Gilbert is the first to share however, that it is not about him, but about the Lord, serving Him, and the team of leaders working with him.
After graduating from high school, he chose to receive a Christian education from Michigan Christian College (now Rochester College); he went on to attend Harding University and graduated in 1981 with dual baccalaureate degrees – one in Biology and the other in Religion.
Since 1981,Bro. Leonardo D. Gilbert has served in the ministry at Sheldon Heights Church of Christ. In 1981, after graduating from Michigan Christian College with an Associated degree and from Harding University with a double major (Bible and Biology) he returned home and accepted the position of Youth Minister at Sheldon Heights under the leadership of the late, great Samuel L. Jordan. Fresh out of college, Bro. Gilbert adopted the motto, “Saved to Serve,” and that is what he did (and continues to do) as he served the Sheldon Heights Church of Christ in the Youth, Educational and Evangelism ministries. Early in his ministerial development, two of his spiritual mothers, Sis. Noveline Kennedy (wife of Levi Kennedy) and Sis. Ruth Jordan (wife of Samuel L. Jordan) really gave great encouragement and insight regarding some of the pitfalls a young preacher might face. Their advice has proven to be a rich blessing in his ministry, leadership, and service.
Bro. Gilbert has been married to Brenda LaJoyce (Nash) since June 2, 1984; they have one son, Leon Demetrius, and one granddaughter, Gabrielle Marie With a formal academic background in Composition and Rhetoric, teaching writing on an elementary, high school and college level, coupled with her strong organizational skills, and commitment to serving the Lord, Brenda has been a blessing to her husband’s ministry. She currently serves as his Administrative Assistant and the General Office Manager at Sheldon Heights. In addition, she works as a Resource Person with the Education Ministry, Chair of the Bulletin Committee, Chair of the Sister to Sister component of the Women’s Ministry, Assistant Chair of the Link Ministry, just to name a few areas of her service. Brenda says, “Like my husband, I thank God I have been ‘saved to serve,’ and like my mom, I want to use as much of my time, talents, treasures, and testimonies to serve the Lord with all my might until He calls me home.”
Having been degreed in Biology and Religion, Bro. Gilbert has been licensed and certified in Ophthalmology as a Certified Ophthalmic Technician, Electrophysiology Specialist, and Research Assistant at the University of Illinois—Chicago. He has also worked and consulted at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Ingalls Hospital, and Mercy Hospital. He has taught for over ten years for the American Academy of Ophthalmology/Joint Commission of Allied Health Professionals in Ophthalmology; he served as the first Black President of its local chapter. A passion for science enabled him to work with a research team funded by the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, fighting blindness. During this time, he was able to co-author several papers with Dr. Gerald Fishman (a world-renown Hereditary Retinal Specialist) on discovering a cure for hereditary retinal disorders. Until recently Bro. Gilbert maintained his certification in ophthalmology.
On January 2, 1995, his spiritual father, Samuel L. Jordan, made his transition from this life to that upper and better Kingdom, Bro. Gilbert was faced with the challenge of helping a congregation heal and remain hopeful for the future. He stepped into that role almost seamlessly because his mentor and father in the gospel had adequately and methodically prepared him for the ministry before the Lord passed on the mantle of ministry to his next pastoral servant at Sheldon Heights — Bro. Leonardo D. Gilbert.
Bro. Jordan had told Bro. Gilbert many times, “Your ministry will accomplish even more than my ministry.” Bro. Gilbert recalls hearing the words, but not really giving much attention to them. However, the words of Bro. Jordan continuously prove to be a blessing to Bro. Gilbert’s ministry as the Lord continues to open up doors and means to serve the church and the community.
After Bro. Jordan’s transition God blessed Leonardo richly and a new thread in the rich tapestry of ministry at this congregation began! One of the first tasks of Bro. Gilbert was to maintain the great legacy of Samuel L. Jordan, Levi Kennedy, and the Michigan Avenue/Sheldon Heights Church of Christ, which meant to change nothing but to develop a continued vision of what God would have him to do. The initial needs of the church would be to develop leaders and members who would help expand the church for the future.
Bro. Gilbert understands that all ministers of this church have their watch over this ministry for a limited and short time so we have no time to waste. Not only does the church have to be internally strengthened but also externally by having an impact in the business, political, and social communities. Bro. Gilbert is actively involved in the church and community on a number of organizations and at a number of levels, including serving as Founder and Chair of the National Teachers’ Workshop (NTW), Director of the International-American Medical Mission (IAMM), previous chair of the Greater Chicago Food Depository Board (GCFD), Founder and previous President of the Greater Roseland/West Pullman Food (GRWP) Network, member of the Local School Council at Fenger High School, Board Member of the City of Chicago Mental Health Board, and Vice Chair of the 34th Ward Ministers’ Alliance just to name a few. in 2009, he received his Masters degree, with distinction, from the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University, which has already helped him tremendously in his leadership of this congregation and the community he serves.
Under his leadership at the Sheldon Heights Church of Christ, much has been accomplished, new visions have been shared, and the work continues to grow, both locally, nationally, and internationally. Bro. Gilbert is the first to share however, that it is not about him, but about the Lord, serving Him, and the team of leaders working with him.