HJ587: Commending James E. Camm.
WHEREAS, James E. Camm, a spiritual leader in Lynchburg, has served the community for more than 20 years as the founding pastor of Living Word Ministries; and
WHEREAS, a native of Lynchburg, James Camm served his country as a member of the United States Army, then furthered his education by earning a bachelor’s degree in personal finance, a master’s degree in organizational management, and a doctoral degree in divinity; and
WHEREAS, after living in Alaska for several years, James Camm returned to the Commonwealth and established Living World Ministries in Lynchburg to provide wise spiritual guidance and community leadership; and
WHEREAS, James Camm has helped Living World Ministries grow in faith and number, expanding the ministry to serve communities in other parts of the Commonwealth, as well as North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, and Alaska; and
WHEREAS, James Camm has worked diligently to enhance the quality of life in Lynchburg by supporting initiatives to reduce crime and gang violence and volunteering his time to provide meals, housing, personal grooming facilities, and laundry services to homeless men in the region; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, James Camm worked with other faith leaders and local law-enforcement officers to establish One Community One Voice to raise local communities out of poverty, enhance access to educational programs and human services, and build a sense of hope, belonging, and encouragement; and
WHEREAS, One Community One Voice has helped provide winter coats, glasses, and other necessities to young people in need, and its B.I.K.E. (Believe in Kids Excelling) awards bicycles to young people who excel in school; and
WHEREAS, through One Community One Voice, James Camm also launched an award-winning outreach program, E.N.O.U.G.H. (Empowering Neighborhoods to Overcome Undesirable behaviors Gives us Hope), which hosts regular community events to allow law-enforcement officers and local government officials to build strong bonds of fellowship with residents of high-risk neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, E.N.O.U.G.H. helps maintain transparency and accountability in policing and builds trust between law-enforcement officers and members of the public by promoting positive interactions in an informal setting; and
WHEREAS, James Camm’s achievements with One Community One Voice and E.N.O.U.G.H. have helped make Lynchburg a state and national model for effective, compassionate community policing; and
WHEREAS, James Camm has also mentored and supported young people at R.S. Payne Elementary School by helping to provide tablet computers for students in need and participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lunch Buddy Program; and
WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades for his vital work, James Camm received the 2017 Mayor’s Award of Excellence and the 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Hero Award; he was part of the delegation that represented Lynchburg when it received the 2018 Innovation Award for Quality of Life from the Virginia Municipal League; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend James E. Camm for his service to the Lynchburg community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to James E. Camm as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his achievements.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 587
WHEREAS, James E. Camm, a spiritual leader in Lynchburg, has served the community for more than 20 years as the founding pastor of Living Word Ministries; and
WHEREAS, a native of Lynchburg, James Camm served his country as a member of the United States Army, then furthered his education by earning a bachelor’s degree in personal finance, a master’s degree in organizational management, and a doctoral degree in divinity; and
WHEREAS, after living in Alaska for several years, James Camm returned to the Commonwealth and established Living World Ministries in Lynchburg to provide wise spiritual guidance and community leadership; and
WHEREAS, James Camm has helped Living World Ministries grow in faith and number, expanding the ministry to serve communities in other parts of the Commonwealth, as well as North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, and Alaska; and
WHEREAS, James Camm has worked diligently to enhance the quality of life in Lynchburg by supporting initiatives to reduce crime and gang violence and volunteering his time to provide meals, housing, personal grooming facilities, and laundry services to homeless men in the region; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, James Camm worked with other faith leaders and local law-enforcement officers to establish One Community One Voice to raise local communities out of poverty, enhance access to educational programs and human services, and build a sense of hope, belonging, and encouragement; and
WHEREAS, One Community One Voice has helped provide winter coats, glasses, and other necessities to young people in need, and its B.I.K.E. (Believe in Kids Excelling) awards bicycles to young people who excel in school; and
WHEREAS, through One Community One Voice, James Camm also launched an award-winning outreach program, E.N.O.U.G.H. (Empowering Neighborhoods to Overcome Undesirable behaviors Gives us Hope), which hosts regular community events to allow law-enforcement officers and local government officials to build strong bonds of fellowship with residents of high-risk neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, E.N.O.U.G.H. helps maintain transparency and accountable in policing and builds trust between law-enforcement officers and members of the public by promoting positive interactions in an informal setting; and
WHEREAS, James Camm’s achievements with One Community One Voice and E.N.O.U.G.H. have helped make Lynchburg a state and national model for effective, compassionate community policing; and
WHEREAS, James Camm has also mentored and supported young people at R.S. Payne Elementary School by helping to provide tablet computers for students in need and participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lunch Buddy Program; and
WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades for his vital work, James Camm received the 2017 Mayor’s Award of Excellence and the 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Hero Award; he was part of the delegation that represented Lynchburg when it received the 2018 Innovation Award for Quality of Life from the Virginia Municipal League; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend James E. Camm for his service to the Lynchburg community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to James E. Camm as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his achievements.