Joliet pastor in his 80s still preaching and reaching out

JOLIET – Sixty-eight years after preaching his first sermon, David Downey still is sharing the Gospel with anyone who will listen.

Downey said he has preached in Joliet churches and on the shores of Lake Michigan – and everywhere in between. He went door to door to reach out to people in Joliet neighborhoods in need of religion. He has played a role in establishing area churches, including Paxton Avenue Christian and Forest Park.

Although officially retired, Downey continues to preach and at age 84 is beginning services at the senior living facility Timbers of Shorewood, at the request of his 88-year-old brother who lives there.

Downey even had his first sermon ready.

“I will be preaching on, ‘Life begins at 80,’ ” Downey said, noting Moses was that age when he encountered God in the burning bush.

Ministry style

Downey, who is white, was honored recently at First Christian Church in Joliet for his 58-year ministry with New Testament Negro Evangelism. People who know Downey said he will continue helping predominantly black churches.

“He’s not retired from nothing,” said David L. Harris, senior minister of Chicago's Paxton Avenue Christian Church. “There was a rally at Wildwood [Church of Christ in Gary, Indiana], and he was there.”

Harris, who views Downey as a mentor and close friend, said the Joliet native is not one to see color. What Downey sees, Harris added, is people who need Jesus.

Harris said Downey would do anything to keep the churches going.

“I think he has a good sense of people,” Harris said. “He obviously has a heart for the black community. He sees the necessity for the Gospel and other outreach in the community.”

Downey said he is most proud of his six kids, who have carried on his tradition of sharing the Gospel, including one who is a preacher’s wife in Kentucky, one who is a deacon and one who is a chaplain in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

He also is proud of the nonfamily members he has influenced to continue on in religion.

“Some have become preachers and preachers’ wives,” Downey said. “One became a Bible college president. I have had more than 30 people under me go to Bible college, including nine in one family.”

Downey never has led a huge congregation. He remembered, as Paxton Avenue Christian began growing, there was a push to average 78 attendees for services in 1978.

“We got close,” Downey said. “For the whole year, we averaged 76.”

Humble beginnings

Downey, who describes himself as a “country boy,” was born and raised in Joliet. He remembers delivering The Herald-News as a boy, riding his bike six miles a day to complete his rural route. He gave his first sermon at age 16 at the MorningStar Mission in Joliet.

“It was on, ‘And one gave thanks,’ ” Downey said, remembering it as if it were yesterday.

Downey was in college at 17 and married to the love of his life, Ruth, at 18. He got the blessing of Ruth’s family by promising not to have kids until the spring of his senior year of college.

Early in his ministry, Downey said he worked in the local steel mill six days a week. He would finish his last shift and hop on the 12:10 a.m. Sunday train in Joliet, arriving at his parish in Washington, Missouri, in daylight.

“I would get there about 20 minutes before Bible study,” Downey said.

Downey, who has Parkinson’s disease and a history of skin cancer, recalled the Kent State shootings in 1970. In the shootings’ aftermath, he preached to crowds on the shores of Lake Michigan.

In addition, Downey said he also had gone into units in the former Robert Taylor Homes, the public housing units in Chicago. Downey said he never thought twice about visiting underserved areas in Joliet and throughout the Chicago area to reach people.

“I realized I could do more here and save on traveling,” Downey said of focusing his ministry efforts in the Joliet area. “We did Bible study, Sunday school, prayer meetings.

“We all work on the same side.”

This article has been updated to correct the location of Paxton Avenue Christian Church. The Herald-News regrets the error.