On December 26, 1963 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, a gift of humanity came in the person of Lesley Fitzgerald Shannon; born to the care of Robert and Betty Shannon. Les grew up in East New York, Brooklyn and was educated in the New York City public school system.
Rev. Shannon is the father of three wonderful, beautiful and loving children; Christopher, Ebony and Zion. Les has 2 brothers; Marvin and Nakayo and 3 sisters, Joann, Terra and Tear.
Les joined the Saint Paul Community Baptist Church family in March 1987 and was called to ministry in January 1995 in response to (then-Senior Pastor) Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood’s sermon, “A Cure for the City”. After joining Saint Paul, Les became an active member of Men’s Ministry and Wounded Healers, St. Paul’s addiction recovery support ministry. He has also served as co-coordinator of Men’s Ministry, a principle Bible instructor for the Sacred Arts Ministry and facilitator for a father’s group at the former Saint Paul Community Christian School. Since answering the call to preach, Les has joined the staff of Saint Paul as a full-time Associate Minister and has been consecrated to the Board of Elders. Rev. Shannon is now directing the Trinity Justice Ministry, a support group to assist persons who are currently or formerly incarcerated and their families. Les received leadership training by participating in the Industrial Areas Foundation/East Brooklyn Congregation’s 10 Day Training and is presently taking a course at New York Divinity School entitled “Preaching for Church Growth”.
As of February 2004, Les has been enjoying his vested retirement from New York City’s Department of Correction after
12 ½ years of honorable service. During his tenure, he received numerous training certificates and awards as well as implementing a crime and prevention program for youth. In 1994 Les received his Certification in Mental Health Training from the NYC Department of Correction; a Certification in Group Facilitation from the Institute of Inner Development of the NYC Department of Correction and NYS Instructors Development Certificate. In 1998, he and two other correction officers pioneered the once flourishing R.A.P (Reducing Adolescent Problems) Unit and in 2003 Les received Coordinator Training Certification from the Mentoring Partnership of New York.
Rev. Shannon’s favorite scriptures are Psalm 19:14 and Ecclesiastes 7:15-16. One of his hopes for the future is that God will give him an understanding heart to better serve His (God’s) people. He also hopes to partner with criminal justice agencies to resolve the disproportionate numbers of African American and Latino youths that are incarcerated.
Rev. Richard Anthony Honeywell, Jr., Associate Pastor
Richard A. Honeywell, Jr., known as Ricky to his family, was born on December 9, 1962 to Teresa Brayton and Ricardo Honeywell at St. Thomas Hospital in Panama City, Republic of Panama, and was raised in the predominantly Black community of Parque Lefevre. He immigrated to Brooklyn, New York on August 1, 1974.
Richard received his education at Queen of All Saints Junior High School and Brooklyn Technical High School. He graduated from New York City Technical College (’83), Long Island University (’88), earned his Master of Divinity Degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School (’97) and is contemplating initiating his doctoral studies.
The seeds of Richard’s spiritual development and love of music were planted by his maternal grandmother, Evelyn “Cita” Anderson and his mother Teresa Brayton. Those seeds were “watered” by the former Pastor of Lenox Road Baptist Church, Rev. Michael R. Dewar. After the departure of Rev. Dewar from Lenox Road, Richard decided to join St. Paul in November ’91. His “Call to Ministry” blossomed under the leadership of his mentor, Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood.
In August 1994, Richard made the faithful decision to leave Brooklyn for full time seminary studies in Rochester, New York. While in seminary he was the Coordinator of the Ministry to Men, Bible Instructor, Coordinator of the Rochester Organizing Committee for the Million Man March and Media Representative for the late Dr. Samuel McCree, Jr., Senior Pastor of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. He also served as the Interim Pastor for the Black Students Worship Committee at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Since returning to St. Paul Community, Rev. Honeywell has served as the Coordinator of Men’s Ministry (1998-2008); Bible Instructor for the former St. Paul Community Christian School and S.P.I.R.I.T. (St. Paul Reflects In Theology Bible Classes); Bible Instructor for the Daytime Ministry; Instructor on the African Heritage of Ancient Israel and Early Church and counselor to men, women and youth throughout the congregation.
Richard’s love of music led to the organizing of his own Latin jazz ensemble, “Honeywell’s Latin Spirit Collective,” which spawned a recording of Latin jazz interpretations of church hymns. His interest in African cultures has evolved into the organizing of an annual excursion to “African Zion,” Ethiopia, introducing participants to 1700 years of East African Christian history and culture.
Rev. Honeywell is married to Annette Honeywell and father to his son Chinua Jelani Honeywell.
