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Commending Bishop Leslie Patterson, Jr., and Dr. Francene V. Patterson.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 23, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2026
WHEREAS, Bishop Leslie Patterson, Jr., and Dr. Francene V. Patterson, devoted faith leaders in Loudoun County, have provided wise and inspirational leadership to the congregation of First Baptist Church of Sterling as co-pastors for more than three decades; and
WHEREAS, Leslie and Francene Patterson joined First Baptist Church of Sterling in August 1995 and have not only guided the congregation through periods of significant growth and renewal, but strengthened the community as a whole through ministries and outreach programs; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure, Leslie Patterson has focused on practical preaching with lessons that are applicable to everyday life; he has inspired numerous individuals to develop a deeper connection with their faith and has personally ordained more than 30 ministers, 14 of whom now serve as senior pastors; and
WHEREAS, Francene Patterson has cultivated her own reputation as a dynamic preacher and an insightful counselor; she has taken an active role in women's outreach and evangelism groups and helped countless individuals grow spiritually and embrace the importance of service to the community; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Leslie and Francene Patterson, First Baptist Church of Sterling has grown from 75 members into a flourishing congregation that fills a 30,000-square-foot facility, which includes a 500-seat sanctuary, gymnasium, and classroom wing, as well as a separate office building; and
WHEREAS, together, Leslie and Francene Patterson established a fully licensed childcare center for 100 children and launched the Manna from Heaven Food Pantry, which has distributed more than 349,000 pounds of food to nearly 12,000 individuals and more than 5,100 families since 2020; and
WHEREAS, Leslie and Francene Patterson have also donated more than $100,000 to community organizations, hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in 2021, supported small and minority-owned businesses, and built lasting partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and civic organizations across Loudoun County and the Northern Virginia Region; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Bishop Leslie Patterson, Jr., and Dr. Francene V. Patterson, on the occasion of their 30th anniversary as co-pastors of First Baptist Church of Sterling; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bishop Leslie Patterson, Jr., and Dr. Francene V. Patterson, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for their legacy of contributions to the Sterling community.