Pastor T. Ray McJunkins was called to preach at the age of nineteen while living in North Little Rock, Arkansas. After serving in the U.S. Air Force following high school graduation, he continued to hear the call to serve God, and accepted a call to become the pastor at a Baptist congregation in Salina, Kansas. He continued to serve that congregation while also pursuing a college and theological education. Pastor McJunkins then spent several years at a congregation in Longview, Texas before becoming the pastor at Union Baptist Church in Springfield, Illinois in 2002.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Napoléon Dies-Waiting For You
Abstract
Interview (Audio) 01
Childhood in N. Little Rock, first sermon and military service
Interview (Audio) 02
Pastoring at Baptist church in Salina, KS and Baptist theology
Interview (Audio) 03
Formal theological training, pastoring in Texas and coming to Springfield
Interview (Audio) 04
Ministry at Union Baptist Church in Springfield & contemporary church
Photos
Caption:
Rosie Jackson, Pastor McJunkin’s maternal grandmother.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
Circa mid-1960s
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Tommy Ray McJunkins at age three in 1966, when the family lived in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
1966
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Tommy McJunkins lived in his grandmother’s house (Mama Rosie) in North Little Rock, Arkansas until he was five years old.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
Late-1960s
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Tommy and his family lived at Shorter College Gardens, a federal urban housing project in North Little Rock, Arkansas from the time he was five years old until he was thirteen.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
Late 1970's
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Tommy Ray lived at this modest home in North Little Rock from the age of thirteen until he joined the Air Force in February 1984 when he was twenty-one.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
Circa 1970's-1984
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Tommy Ray McJunkins when he was ten.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
1973
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Sixteen-year-old Tommy Ray McJunkins sported an Afro hair style that was popular. By that time, he was already working at a local Sears store.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
1979
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
A proud Elouise Larry with her son Tommy Ray, shortly before his graduation from Northeast High School in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
1981
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
T. Ray joined the Air Force and attended Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Where:
San Antonio, Texas
When:
1984
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Airman McJunkins was a mechanic during his years in the Air Force, but spent more time maintaining the section’s books than turning wrenches. He was based at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
mid-1980s
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Elouise Larry, Pastor McJunkin’s mother, while she lived in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Where:
North Little Rock, Arkansas
When:
circa 1985-86
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkin’s St. John’s MBC congregation grew significantly during his ministry in Salina, Kansas from 1989 to 1998. This was a typical Baptist altar call.
Where:
Salina, Kansas
When:
1989 to 1998
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins’ first church call was to St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Salina Kansas , starting his ministry there in 1990.
Where:
Salina Kansas
When:
1990
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
The St. John’s MBC choir was an integral part of Pastor McJunkin’s ministry during his years with the congregation. Here they are raising a joyful noise during a service.
Where:
Salina Kansas
When:
mid-1990s
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins’ first baptisms happened while ministering at Bethel Baptist Church in Longview, Texas in 1998 were Rocco Colbert and Stevie Crain, Jr. were baptized that day.
Where:
Longview, Texas
When:
1998
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
This sign outside the Bethel Baptist Church welcomed Rev. McJunkins and family when they arrived in Longview, Texas in 1998.
Where:
Longview, Texas
When:
1998
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins blessed a congregant’s baby during a church service at Bethel Baptist Church
Where:
Longview, Texas
When:
Circa 2000
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins performed this baptism while serving Bethel Baptist Church.
Where:
Longview, Texas
When:
Circa 2000
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins, along with Rayhan Westbrook on the left and Ken Page on the right, met with Congressman John Lewis during his visit to Springfield in 2008 for the Frontier International Breakfast on Martin Luther King Day.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2008
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor T. Ray McJunkins with mayor Jim Langfelder during the pastor’s visit to the mayor’s office.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2010
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins spoke at a Faith Coalition for the Common Good event in Springfield about social justice.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2010
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins met with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White at a Democrat Breakfast at Springfield’s Crown Plaza Hotel.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
August 2010
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins and Leroy Jordan met with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2010
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins spoke on behalf of the Illinois To Work program, an anti-poverty program promoted by Gov. Pat Quinn, outside the state Capitol at an AFSCME Union event in Springfield. Over 10,000 were present.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2011
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins met with President Barack Obama in the President’s Oval Office during a Faith Coalition for the Common Good event. Then State Senator Obama had visited McJunkin’s congregation several times during Obama’s time in the Illinois State Senate.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2011
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins spoke at a public rally outside the Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield where Wisconsin governor Scott Walker was talking to a group of Republicans.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
April 2012
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2017
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins is flanked by IL State Senator Kimberly Lightford and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton during an event in Springfield.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
December 2018
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins met with Governor elect J.B. Pritzker at Loyola, University in Chicago. Pastor McJunkins served on Gov. Pritzker’s transition team.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
December 2018
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins baptized Anthony Baxton at the Union Baptist Church in Springfield, Illinois. He began his ministry there in 2002.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
2019
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins ran for Alderman for the 1st Ward of Springfield twice, losing to Chuck Redpath. This campaign event was at J.P. Kelly’s pub in downtown Springfield.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2019
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins was asked to speak at Governor J.B. Pritzker’s inaugural prayer breakfast.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January 2019
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor T. Ray and Phyllis G. McJunkins cut the cake at their wedding. They were married at the Pastor’s church, Union Baptist Church, in Springfield, with a reception at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Springfield.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
October 5, 2019
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins with IL Representative Sue Scherer at the state Capitol.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
April 2021
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
Pastor McJunkins with Illinois’s newly elected Speaker of the House Chris Welch at the Capitol. Welch and McJunkins are Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
April 2021
Ownership:
Narrators' photo
Caption:
This billboard went up in Springfield in an effort to get more African Americans to get the Covid-19 vaccine. It is sponsored by SIU, IL Dept. of Health and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The Union Baptist Church has also tested for the virus as well as administering vaccines.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
May 2021
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.