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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation
4 of the Zion Missionary Baptist Church on the occasion of the
5 church's 170th anniversary; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The history of the Zion Missionary Baptist Church
7 began in April of 1838, when Reverend John Livingston, along
8 with 18 black settlers assembled in the home of Anderson Carter
9 to organize the Colored Baptist Church, the third oldest Black
10 Church in the State of Illinois; among the charter members were
11 George W. Brent Sr., Thornton Coleman, Maria Vance, Anna
12 Butler, Frances Ellis, Sadie Demery, Winefred Huston, Joseph
13 Huston, and Nancy Jackson; that same year, Reverend Luther
14 Arnold was called to pastor this newly formed church; and
 
15     WHEREAS, In 1839, Reverend Livingston met at the Colored
16 Baptist Church with several area church leaders and organized
17 the Wood River Baptist Association, the second oldest Black
18 Association in the United States; in 1878, the Colored Baptist
19 Church affiliated with the Springfield Baptist Association of
20 the Illinois Baptist State Convention; in 1890, under the
21 pastorate of Reverend West, the Colored Baptist Church returned
22 to the Wood River Baptist Association; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, In 1894, the name of the Colored Baptist Church
2 was changed to the Zion Missionary Baptist Church; in 1902,
3 several delegates from across the State met at Zion and
4 organized the Baptist General State Convention of Illinois; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Under the pastorate of Reverend J.C. Roberts, the
6 Zion Missionary Baptist Church affiliated with the Springfield
7 Council of Churches, which was organized in 1924; the church
8 also associated with the Illinois Council of Churches after its
9 formation; within months of beginning his pastorate in 1929,
10 Reverend Clyde M. Shultz led the congregation in the burning of
11 the church's mortgage; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In 1938, the Centennial Celebration of Zion was
13 celebrated under the pastorate of Reverend R. Calvin Shultz,
14 the brother of Reverend Clyde M. Shultz; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The 20th century represented a period of great
16 growth for the Zion Missionary Baptist Church; under the
17 pastorate of Reverend Thomas Herring, an extensive cleaning,
18 repairing, and painting project was initiated on the church;
19 Reverend Herring's wife initiated a children's group, the Buds
20 of Promise; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Reverend Henry F. Blakey,
22 membership growth continued apace at the Zion Missionary

 

 

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1 Baptist Church; during his tenure, the Altar Committee, Men's
2 Club, Steering Committee, Flower Club, Silent Workers,
3 Dramatic Club, and the Religious Education Department were
4 formed; in October of 1944, the church was completely remodeled
5 under the direction of Reverend Blakey; his successor, Reverend
6 George Winston, led the church in reducing the remodeling debt
7 significantly; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Under the pastorate of Reverend John A. Hester, a
9 new parsonage was built onto the Zion Missionary Baptist Church
10 in 1954; Reverend Albert T. Rowan, who succeeded Reverend
11 Hester, was responsible for the organization of a Choral Group
12 for inspirational singing and the mobilization of the church
13 younger members, who were most helpful in the construction of
14 the church's kitchen and choir room; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The Zion Missionary Baptist Church took part in
16 its first major building expansion effort during the 1960s,
17 under the direction of Reverend Negil L. McPherson; in 1963,
18 the church purchased property on the corner of 16th and Laurel
19 Streets in Springfield; after three major building campaigns,
20 the church broke ground for its new edifice on August 30, 1970;
21 after completing construction, the first service in the new
22 building was held on November 5, 1972; the new building's
23 dedication was held on February 4, 1973; in 1978, another lot
24 was purchased to expand the church's parking facilities; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Reverend McPherson was also responsible for
2 leading the Zion Missionary Baptist Church toward greater
3 involvement with district, State, and national convention
4 work; his successor, Reverend George W. Waddles Sr., was
5 instrumental in increasing membership and financial
6 contributions, as well as enhancing the Christian Education and
7 Worship Ministries; and
 
8     WHEREAS, On April 24, 1984, Reverend Samuel W. Hale Jr. was
9 called to serve as the 30th Pastor of Zion Missionary Baptist
10 Church; under his leadership, the Children's Choir,
11 Brotherhood Chorus, Golden Agers Fellowship Chorus,
12 Instrumental Ensemble, Storehouse Ministry, Red Circle Girls
13 Program, Royal Ambassador Program, Golden Agers Fellowship,
14 Brotherhood Ministry, Red Circle Girls Program, and Vacation
15 Bible School Ministry were formed; in addition, the church
16 experienced a new period of growth, with the purchase of a new
17 parsonage in 1984, the burning of the church's second mortgage
18 in 1985, and the increase of both land and financial capital;
19 and
 
20     WHEREAS, In April of 1988, the Zion Missionary Baptist
21 Church celebrated its 150th anniversary; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Today, the Zion Missionary Baptist Church

 

 

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1 continues its mission of spreading the word of God to its many
2 members and the world at large, as well as serving its
3 community in many beneficial ways; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The dedication and piety exhibited by the
5 congregation of the Zion Missionary Baptist Church is worthy of
6 the greatest respect; therefore, be it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
9 congratulate the congregation of the Zion Missionary Baptist
10 Church on the occasion of the church's 170th anniversary and
11 wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be
12 it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to the Zion Missionary Baptist Church as a symbol of
15 our esteem and respect.