Pastor Rickey Parks: Transitioning to the Next Level

Rickey Parks Rev. Rickey E. Parks, pastor of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Champaign, Illinois will be the featured speaker for Sunrise Service Sunday, April 24. Held during Founder’s Celebration, the free, public event will take place at 6:30 a.m. in the Cross-Phipps auditorium of Caldwell Hall. Parks is the son of Chester, Jr. and Azzilee Parks of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1981. In 1986, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Community Recreation in Physical Education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Rev. Parks was licensed to preach the Gospel on June 15, 1997, and was ordained as a Minister on June 27, 1999. In 2002, he accepted the call to Pastor Star Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Wabbaseka, Arkansas. His extensive work history involving the church is on a local, state and national level, including the Regular Arkansas Baptist State Convention Central District as Moderator-At-Large. While at UAPB, Rev. Parks was a college professor for nine years in the Department of Health, Recreation and Physical Education, where he also was the Defensive Back Coach, Recruiting Coordinator and Academic Advisor as well as Head Golf Coach. He worked as a radio and TV commentator for the Golden Lions football games. In January of 2008, Rev. Parks accepted the call to become the eighth (8th) Pastor of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Champaign, Illinois.  Currently, he is employed as a Truancy Interventionist & Student Advocate by the Champaign Unit 4 School District. He is the Moderator for the Fellowship Baptist District Association, and Co-President of Moderators Division of Baptist General State Convention of Illinois. He also served as Head Football Coach of the Central and Urbana High School Freshman Team (his professional experience includes playing in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings). Contact Guest: http://www.pilgrimmb.org Host Contact: www.drajrbutler.com