Pastor Clenard Howard Childress, Jr., a lifelong resident of Montclair, New Jersey, joined the New Calvary Baptist Church in September of 1974 under the pastorate of Dr. Shellie Sampson. In 1978, he was appointed Director of the Youth Department, to organize and educate youth.
He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Superintendent of the Sunday School Department and Vice-President of the Outreach Ministries.
Pastor Childress successfully completed Northern Baptist School of Religion in 1986 where he majored in Christian Education. He was ordained in 1988 by the North Jersey Shiloh Association and later installed as Senior Pastor of New Calvary in April of 1989.
In 1997, Pastor Childress, along with his wife Regina, founded the Eutychus Mission, a ministry designed to provide continued rehabilitation and assistance to recently released juvenile detention detainees back into the mainstream of society.
In October of 1998, Essex County Executive James Treffinger honored Pastor Childress’ faithful and effective work at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center by installing him as a Chaplain.
In November of 1998, he founded the Celebration of Life Day Care Center, which provides loving Christian care for children from infancy to 5 years of age.
In August of 1999, Pastor Childress was appointed President of the Life Education And Resource Network (L.E.A.R.N.) in Northeast Region. He was a chief organizer of the "Say So" March to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
In November of 2000, Pastor Childress was awarded the Community Service Award by the Montclair Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. for his dedicated work in the community.
In May of 2001, Pastor Childress began broadcasting "The Urban Prophet" taking the pro-life pro-family message into the urban areas.
In September of 2002, Pastor Clenard H. Childress Jr. birthed the Pro-life website Blackgenocide.org. This website was designed to reach the Afro-American Community with the truth about abortion.
In January 2003, Pastor Childress was appointed a member of the National Pro-Life Religious Council of Washington, DC.
In March of 2003 Pastor Childress was appointed to the Board of The Center For Bio Ethical Reform. The Center For Bio Ethical Reform is a National Group that is dedicated in educating the nation and foreign countries on the rights of the unborn.
In January 2004, Pastor Childress was appointed President of the Montclair African American Clergy Association (MAACA).
In 2004 Rev. Clenard H. Childress Jr. was appointed by the Board Of Directors of LEARN to: Assistant to The National Director, Of The Life Education And Resource Network.
On January 23, 2005 Pastor Childress having been recommended by his peers and approved by the Board of Scholars of the National Clergy Council of Washington Dc in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church–USA, received The Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Divinity.
In March of 2006 Rev. Clenard H. Childress authored his first book No Shepherd’s Cry. Pastor Childress and his book were featured on the 700 Club hosted by CBN’s Pat Roberson.
Pastor Childress Jr. has repeatedly been featured in World Magazine and has contributed commentary and editorials for Christianity Today, The Christian Post, Black Christian News, The Washington Times and New Jersey Star Ledger and is a regular columnist on Alan Keys Renew America.
Pastor Childress is joyously married to Regina Childress and has four children: Clenard, Thomas, Tonya and Tia.