Meet Our Pastor
Rev. Dr. Louis E. Malone
Dr. Louis Edward Malone was born May 22, 1949 in Athens, Alabama, the 4th child of Mary
and John Malone. He graduated in 1968 from the Trinity High School in Athens, Alabama. In
1968 he moved to Rockford, Illinois and began working for Chrysler Corporation located in
Belvidere, Illinois. He was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1969. He served 2 years, including a
one year stint of combat support in Viet Nam.
In 1972 he met his future wife, Sharon Walker, and in 1974 they were married.
At the age of 16 he joined the Mt. Vernon Primitive Baptist Church and was baptized by Rev. S.
L. Malone. As he grew into adulthood, Pastor Malone knew that God had a special calling on
his life but he refused to accept it. He often attended the New Zion Baptist Church in Rockford
and listened to the teaching and preaching of Dr. Clayborn Salter. At the age of 22 he joined the
Greater New Hope Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Adolph G. White. During this
time he sang in the choir and served as a deacon.
At the age of 28, he accepted the call to preach the Gospel and in July 1977 he preached his first
sermon entitled “Faith Plus Works Equal Your Blessing”. In 1979 he was ordained to the
ministry by Rev. Adolph G. White, Pastor of the Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Rockford,
IL.
He attended Rock Valley College in Rockford. While serving as an associate minister, Pastor
White became ill and Rev. Malone was asked to carry out the administrative and pastoral duties
of the church and pastor.
Upon Pastor White’s return to his pastoral duties and because of unrest and dissension among the
members, Rev. Malone was asked by the members to organize a new church whereby he would
become their pastor. Because of his loyalty to Pastor White, there was much hesitation to do
what was asked of him.
After praying about it and waiting for an answer from God and
consulting with his wife, he finally agreed to go forth with the request.
Our pastor with the state governor
Our Assistant Pastor
Meet Our Assistant Pastor In the Person Of Rev. Robert Jones