Robert
Childress, a native Houstonian, received an A.A. Degree in General Studies from
Lon Morris College in 1985 and his B.A. Degree in History / Sociology from
Stephen F. Austin State University in 1987. He obtained his Masters
Degree in Divinity from Perkins School of Theology in 1991. In 1997
Robert Childress received his Doctorate Degree in Ministry from United
Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
He began
Pastoring in 1985 in East Texas. Dr. Childress came to Covenant Glen UMC
(Fort Bend County) in 1990. The church at that time had a membership of 35;
today Covenant Glen's average weekly worship attendance is approximately
1,200. Under the leadership of Dr.
Childress the church has developed
several community focused ministries;
including an Elementary Prep School (
Ubora 1991-2015) , a vibrant Prison and an Outreach Ministry, housing
development ministry, apartment ministry, and various programs and services that
ministers to families at all levels.
Pastor
Childress has served on many community and church related boards and agencies
such as the Fort Bend Child Advocacy Advisory Council, Texas Southern
University Board of Regents, God, Family and Country Committee and Founder of
the Ubora School, and the Fifth Street Revitalization Committee ( The FSRC is responsible for the transformation of an
impoverished area that surrounds the church . Water system upgrades, housing
and road construction where rebuilt so that the area is now viable and
flourishing). The FSRC was a joint venture between religious and
public sectors.
Dr.
Childress has been featured in several local papers which include the Houston
Forward Times, Defender, Houston Chronicle, Fort Bend Star, Southwest Sun, and
the Houston Business Journal. He is the recipient of numerous awards:
Magna Cum Laude award for graduating number 4 out of a 465 member graduating
class at Forest Brook High School in Houston, Texas, recipient of 12 Dean's
List Awards, Who's Who Among American College Students, Martin Luther King Jr.
Visionary Award, NAACP Community Service Award, Phi Beta Kappa Academic
Achievement Award and several other community based honors.
Dr.
Childress is the founder and leader of The Liberation Project Inc, a church
base community development corporation that developed a Youth Drug Prevention
and Intervention Program funded by the State of Texas. The YDPI provides
life skills training for at risk children and youth in the Fort Bend area. The Liberation
Project also developed the Glen Park subdivision, which made home ownership
possible for 113 families in the Fifth St. area of Missouri City. He's
the founder of an Economic endeavor, which owned two funeral homes in Fort Bend
County.