HR0583 LRB093 14661 KEF 40203 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives recognize Progressive Baptist Church of Aurora
4 on the occasion of its 40th anniversary; and
 
5     WHEREAS, In November of 1963, eleven faithful Christians
6 began a prayer services in the home of Dan and Rosie Stewart,
7 at 803 East Benton Street; out of the midst was born
8 Progressive Baptist Church formally organized in December of
9 that same year; armed with a strong Christian faith embodied in
10 love, their vision led them onward with founding pastor,
11 Reverend Robert Wesby; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Progressive Baptist Church has come this far by
13 faith; this church was founded upon the principles of charity
14 and liberation of the captives; the church immediately began to
15 experience the manifestation of these challenges in that it
16 endured two fires within the building of questionable origin,
17 cross burnings in front of the church, bomb threats, endless
18 obscene phone calls, as well as hate mail; the perils of these
19 challenges were instrumental in drawing the church family even
20 closer together; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Pastor Wesby was well known in the community as a
22 civil rights crusader and social activist who was closely
23 acquainted with such civil rights leaders as the Rev. Dr.
24 Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Jesse Jackson; he was
25 instrumental in establishing the Aurora Urban League as well as
26 the first blood bank and the first food bank; he was the
27 guiding force of the Church until his murder in July 1988; it
28 was a great blow to the Church and the community; since then,
29 the congregation has continued its ministry under the
30 leadership of the Rev. Roy R. Brown, the current pastor and the
31 second in the Church's history; and
 

 

 

HR0583 - 2 - LRB093 14661 KEF 40203 r

1     WHEREAS, Pastor Brown, a retired corporate executive, has
2 brought to Progressive an anointed Teaching/Preaching ministry
3 that is moving Progressive Church to higher heights; he is
4 known as a visionary leader with exceptional leadership,
5 organizational, and administrative talents; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Progressive Baptist Church is a beacon of light in
7 the Fox Valley community, unafraid to right the wrongs, to feed
8 the poor, clothe the naked, demand civil liberties, speak for
9 the less fortunate, and open it's doors to anyone considered
10 disadvantaged; therefore, be it
 
11     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13 recognize Progressive Baptist Church on the occasion of its
14 40th anniversary of service and dedication to the Fox Valley
15 community; and be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to Progressive Baptist Church Reverend Roy Brown as
18 an expression of our respect and esteem.