Pastor Jerome McNeil of Christian Chapel Temple of Faith passed away last year on July 15 at the age of 63, after delivering his Sunday service sermon. In 21 years, Pastor McNeil led the congregation to grow from 60 members to 6,000.
McNeil inspired so many and his legacy continues to live on through not only the church but through special honor bestowed by Dallas County. On Monday, Jan. 28, Dallas County recognized the contributions he made to the juvenile system in the community during his years of service, including as the Assistant Director of the Dallas County Juvenile Department. The county renamed a section of the facility the Jerome McNeil Jr. Juvenile Detention Center. The facility is a part of the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center located at 2600 Lone Star Dr.
Dallas County works with the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission to house youth ages 10-17 who have been arrested by a police agency or charged with a criminal offense or who are alleged to have violated their conditions of probation.
Other lifetime achievements for the Cleburne native included lobbying for Texas Coalition for Juvenile Justice, being appointed to the Texas Marriage and Family Licensing Board by Gov. Ann Richards, and co-founding the African American Pastors Coalition in Dallas. He was the denominational prayer coordinator for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and served on the board of state and national institutions, along with serving on the social work faculty at some Texas schools.
McNeil authored The Pain of Change: Transitioning a Church Through Worship and Prayer.
