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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Reverend Silas Johnson on
435 years as pastor of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in
5Springfield; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Rev. Johnson is a native of Macon, Mississippi and
7has lived in Springfield for many years; he graduated from
8Noxubee County High School in Macon and attended Lincoln Land
9Community College and the United Theological Seminary, where he
10earned his Bachelor of Theology in Religious Studies; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Rev. Johnson was ordained at the age of 25, and
12his service to Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, the
13Springfield religious community, and the community-at-large is
14extensive; he has taught Sunday school, directed several
15ministries, and served on task forces; he is a member of the
16NAACP; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Rev. Johnson is the visionary behind Nehemiah
18Expansion, Inc., a not-for-profit outreach ministry that
19includes Nehemiah Affordable Housing, which has built over 80
20houses on the eastside of Springfield, and the Nehemiah Child
21Development Center, which provides high quality daycare at
22three locations; he also helps operate a technology center

 

 

HR0492- 2 -LRB101 13818 MST 62677 r

1through Calvary in collaboration with the Springfield Housing
2Authority to help residents who are interested in finding
3employment or gaining academic advancement learn important
4technological and computer skills; and
 
5    WHEREAS, This year, Rev. Johnson is also helping Calvary
6Missionary Baptist Church celebrate the 100th anniversary of
7its founding; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Rev. Johnson is a certified electrician and
9retired in July of 2010 from a long career with City Water,
10Light and Power; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Rev. Johnson and his wife, Loretta, are the
12parents of three children together, Isaiah, Samuel LeJuane, and
13Silas Adrian II; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
15HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we congratulate Reverend Silas Johnson on 35 years as pastor of
17Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and wish him many more
18wonderful years; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to Rev. Johnson as a symbol of our respect and
21esteem.