Today, Reverend Doctor Elijah Thompson, Pastor of the Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle (BMGT), endorsed Mayor Bloomberg’s bid for re-election. Rev. Dr. Thompson cited the Mayor’s record on education reform and his support of small businesses as the primary reasons for the endorsement.
Rev. Dr. Thompson has been the Pastor of BMGT for over 29 years and a New Yorker for nearly 40 years after he immigrated to New York City from Jamaica. BMGT was established in 1980 and has a congregation of over 350 families from the Bronx and surrounding neighborhoods.
“Mayor Bloomberg has improved the lives of the members of my congregation and has focused on ensuring that the future of our city is bright,” said Rev. Dr. Thompson. “The children in my community are receiving a far better education today than they did eight years ago, as higher test scores have shown, and I know things will continue to get even better. I am confident that the Mayor’s efforts will positively impact small businesses in our neighborhood, helping them get through these challenging economic times. Over his last eight years in office, the Mayor has done a tremendous job and I anticipate that the next four years will be even better.”
“We have made great strides in closing the achievement gap between minority and white children in our schools, but there is still much more that we can achieve in the next four years,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “With the support of many of our most diverse and vibrant communities, like the one I am surrounded by here today in the Bronx, we can continue New York down a path of success. Rev. Dr. Thompson has been a great pillar of support for his congregation and community in the Bronx, and I am grateful for his endorsement and vote of confidence.”
Mayor Bloomberg’s education policies have contributed to a 15 percentage-point rise in four-year high school graduation rates and the creation of an additional 82,000 seats in City schools so that more New Yorkers have a chance to receive a proper education. Mike has made substantial progress in closing the achievement gap that exists between white and African-American students. For New York City fourth graders, the achievement gap in math has been cut in half since 2002 and by over 30% in reading
Mayor Bloomberg has found new ways to help stimulate and assist small businesses in this difficult economy. He created the NYC Business Solution Centers, which provide essential services to small businesses, including help with finding workers, business planning services, and low-interest loans. In 2008 alone, NYC Business Solutions centers served over 12,000 businesses and entrepreneurs. To encourage more minority and women-owned and operated businesses, the Mayor created the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise Program (MWBE). MWBE certified businesses have been awarded nearly $900 million in City contracts in the last fiscal year alone. Nearly 2,200 companies have been certified to participate in this program.
Reverend Thompson joins a growing list of other prominent religious leaders who have endorsed Mayor Bloomberg including:
Reverend Dr. Wenton A. Fyne, Church of the Nazarene
A.R. Bernard, Christian Cultural Center
Reverend Floyd Flake, Greater Allen A. M. E.
Reverend Dr. Birkett, Church Alive Community Church
Reverend Dr. Calvin Rice, New Jerusalem Baptist Church
Reverend William Smalls, Naomi AME Zion Church
Mohammad Razvi, Council of People’s Organization
Reverend Malcolm Byrd, Varick Memorial AME Zion Church
Bishop George Shorts, Pilgrim Cathedral of East New York
Reverend John Marshall, New Life Missionary Baptist
Bishop Rubin Mitchell, Jesus Family Ministries
Pastor Dennis Loncke, Arverne Pilgrim Church
Reverend Shon Adkins, Antioch Baptist Church
Reverend Clifton Mullings, Evangelical Holiness Church
Pastor Paul Cockfield, Battalion Pentecostal Church
Pastor Benjamin Patterson, First Presbyterian Church
Pastor Milton Sterling, Berea New Testament Church of God
Reverend Ismale Pierre, French Speaking Baptist Church
Reverend Alex Pierre, Haitian Baptist Church of Salvation
Pastor Les Mullings, Far Rockaway Community Church of the Nazarene
Reverend Lenroy Pascall, Springfield Garden Nazarene
Pastor Thomas Johnson, Harlem Canaan Baptist Church
Bishop Mitchell Taylor, Center of Hope International
Bishop Cecil G. Riley, Freedom Hall Church of God
Reverend Robert Royal, St. Paul’s Community Baptist Church
Reverend Shepherd Lee, Baptist Temple Church
Sheikh Salihou Djabi, Council of African Imams
Archbishop James P. Roberts, Cathedral of St. Thomas Church
Reverend Patricia Singletary, Elemdorf Reform Church
Reverend James Morrison, Mount Lebanon Baptist Church
Reverend Carlene Thorbes, Past President, Baptist Ministers Conference of Queens
Reverend Earl Chester, Greater New Beginnings Church
Reverend. Gregory Robeson Smith, Mother Zion AME Church
Reverend. Henry A. Belin III, Bethel AME Church
Reverend. Renee Washington Garner, Metropolitan Baptist Church
Reverend. Charles Curtis, Mount Olivet Baptist Church
