Bishop Kevin Adams, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church, will receive a President's Lifetime Achievement Award today in Atlanta.
The honor, presented at the Kingdom Awards, is part of the President's Volunteer Service Awards program, launched in 2003 by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to honor committed volunteers who inspire others and recognize the importance of volunteers to the country's strength and identity. The program continues as a Corporation for National and Community Service initiative, managed in partnership with the international nonprofit Points of Light.
The President's Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for those who give more than 4,000 hours of service over their lifetime.
A life of faith and service is important to Adams, who describes himself as a "believer."
"James 2:14-26 teaches us that faith without works is dead," Adams said in an email. "I love helping people because I myself have been helped so much."
He has taught the gospel for more than 30 years, according to his Kingdom Awards biography. It describes his teaching and preaching style as "simple, yet extraordinary."
Adams, along with Brainerd High School Vice Principal Charles Mitchell, leads the "Citizen Safety Coalition." Created a year ago, the group serves to connect citizens with efforts to end gang violence, including encouraging people committing the violence to stop shooting, talking to neighborhood residents about violence and safety and offering safe activity programming for young people.
"It is an honor to recognize these outstanding servants of humanity," Kingdom Awards CEO Pauline Key said in an announcement. "They have dedicated their lives to help individuals and their communities succeed in some very challenging situations."
Adams said he was "truly honored and humbled" to receive the award, but gives God the glory for it.
"I want the award to inspire my children and the young generation of Chattanooga," he said. "I grew up in the hood. It doesn't matter where you come from in life but where you aim your sights on going. Aim far and high."
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@times freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_tfp.