"Since 2002, I've buried 15 kids who have been shot," a frustrated Parker told The Rock Island Dispatch-Argus in 2013. As a reverend, "that comes to me with an obligation. I just don't want to show up when we're burying somebody. Let me prevent one one time."
Parker spoke to The Dispatch-Argus as he called on community leaders to find solutions to violence. Years earlier, Parker focused on much less weightier issues than life or death. Years earlier, Parker played baseball.
The player-turned-reverend saw four seasons in pro ball. He never made AA. He's since gone on to serve first as a substance abuse counselor, then as a pastor near his hometown of Davenport, Iowa. More recently, he's assumed pastor duties in Omaha, Neb.
Parker's brief baseball career began in 1987, signed by the Braves out of Davenport Central High School and Muscatine Junior College.
He played his first two seasons in the rookie Gulf Coast League. The hurler started five games each seasons and had high ERAs in both.
Parker then moved to rookie Pulaski for 1989, where he went 3-2 over 16 outings, eight starts. He turned in an ERA of 3.68.
His final season in pro ball came in 1990 with the Mets. He saw four games at single-A Columbia and four more at short-season Pittsfield to end his career.
Parker soon received his degree in religious studies from Marycrest College in Davenport and then studied at Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary in Evansville, Ind., according to his current church St. Mark Baptist Church in Omaha.
After time as a counselor and gang task force expert, he followed his father and grandfather into the ministry, according to St. Mark Baptist. He first served with Greater Antioch Baptist Church in Rock Island and then founded The Word Church in nearby East Moline, Ill, in 2002. In 2017, he moved to St. Mark and Omaha.
In 2011, he led The Word Church to a new space in a renovated old church building, according to The Quad-City Times.
"Divinely speaking, I think it was the Lord's hand," Parker told The Times of the move. "It's an opportunity to do ministry downtown, to build it back up. You can't build a church like that anymore."
- Quad-City Times, Jan. 9, 2011: Old church, new congregation
- Rock Island Dispatch-Argus, May 1, 2013: Rock Island reverend seeks end to teenage funerals
- St. Mark Baptist Church, Omaha, Neb.: Pastor Jarrod S. Parker
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I was looking for the son of Rev. John Parker. My name is Dennis Murray and I played basketball for Coach Will Robinson. In fact I was the 1st of his players to play for him in High School and College. Which of course means I knew your father very well.
ReplyDeleteI thought you should know that we just, in September, learned of your father's passing in 2015. Several of us, Spencer Haywood, Ralph Simpson, John Lockard, Mack Rush, Curtez Meriwether, Darrell Jeter, Randy Henry and myself to name a few, had wonderful things to say about your father.
I'm also sorry to hear about your mom. The 1st time I went to Normal to live,in the summer of 1970, I was taken by car with your mom and dad.
Great People and very much loved.
God Bless
Much Love
Dennis Murray