About Us

Pastor Jocelyn Carita Thornton

"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


Pastor 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
African American 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 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.
Jocelyn Thornton Ministries


Jocelyn Thornton Ministries
Copyright, 2008
Preaching the Gospel to Transform the World for the Kingdom of God
            Pastor
          
               Entrepreneur
Teacher

           Worship Leader

Author                        
                      Coach
        Mentor        

                   Visionary