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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation
4of the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church of Urbana on the
5occasion of the church's 100th anniversary; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The first Free Will Baptist Church was organized
7in 1727 by Brother Paul Palmer; more Free Will Baptist churches
8were organized throughout the 1800s, with anti-slavery as a
9core belief; Free Will Baptist churches began to spread
10throughout the nation in 1876; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church of
12Urbana was organized in February of 1911; the church's first
13elected Pastor was Rev. L.W. Wilber; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church's
15present Pastor, Elder Holmes, has presided over the church
16since April of 1982; during the past 29 years, Pastor Elder
17Holmes has helped update the church facility as the
18congregation has grown greatly; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Over the years, the Morning Star Free Will Baptist
20Church has been blessed to host musicians such as Mavis Staples
21and the Staple Singers, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, Twinkie Clark,

 

 

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1Edwin Hawkins, and the Williams Brothers; the church has also
2hosted a number of religious leaders, including Dr. Martin
3Luther King Sr.; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Today, the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church
5remains a place of worship and praise through prayer and song;
6while the church's members are few, the church continues to
7look to God for His divine grace and mercy to work with those
8who are here and willing to work and to overcome all obstacles
9that are put before them; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The congregation of the Morning Star Free Will
11Baptist Church serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and
12dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore,
13be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we congratulate the congregation of the Morning Star Free Will
17Baptist Church of Urbana on the occasion of the church's 100th
18anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in
19the future; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to Pastor Elder Holmes of the Morning Star Free Will
22Baptist Church as a symbol of our esteem and respect.