HR1333 LRB094 20612 HSS 58925 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois are pleased to recognize the 160th
4 anniversary of Salem Baptist Church; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Salem Baptist Church was organized in 1846 as
6 Salem Separate Baptist Church with 40 members, and Elder Robert
7 Henson was elected as the first pastor; ground for the church
8 building was donated by Mr. Lewis Ward, a deacon, and the first
9 services in that building were held in May of 1857; and
 
10     WHEREAS, From 1906 to 1916, no services were held in the
11 church, and in September of 1916, the church began holding
12 Sunday School again; and
 
13     WHEREAS, In 1922, a new building was completed at a cost of
14 $5,000, with members completing most of the work, and in 1929,
15 electric lights were installed; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The church really began to grow under the
17 leadership of Russell Pittman, who was called to be the pastor
18 in 1967; during his pastorate, the church purchased 35 acres,
19 became an Independent Baptist Church, and a gymnasium and
20 church were built on the new property; in 1980, the church
21 moved into the new building; and
 
22     WHEREAS, The church averages around 350 in Sunday School
23 and a few more for worship services with a high attendance day
24 of 1,100; the church has the largest bus ministry in the area
25 with five bus routes and a van route; other ministries include
26 Sunday School for all age groups; a Children's Church; King's
27 Kids on Wednesday evenings; Joshua Men's Fellowship;
28 Homebuilders, a ministry for married couples; a Youth Ministry;
29 a Music Ministry; a Senior Saints Ministry; a Soul Winning
30 Ministry; a Young Married Couples Ministry; a Singles Ministry;

 

 

HR1333 - 2 - LRB094 20612 HSS 58925 r

1 and a Reformers Unanimous Ministry, an addiction abstinence
2 program; and
 
3     WHEREAS, The pastor of Salem Baptist Church is Gerald
4 Thompson; Dr. Roger Weldy serves as an Assistant Pastor and
5 Music Director, and Dean Jones is an Assistant Pastor and Youth
6 Director; therefore, be it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9 we recognize the 160th anniversary of Salem Baptist Church; and
10 be it further
 
11     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12 presented to Salem Baptist Church as an expression of our
13 esteem.