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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate Rev. Dr. Napoleon
4 Davis on the occasion of celebrating his Golden Jubilee
5 Pastoral Anniversary on October 11, 2009; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis attended the Greene County
7 Training School in Boligee, Alabama; he then graduated from
8 Selma University in Selma, Alabama, where he earned his
9 honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1979; he also studied at
10 the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and Northwestern
11 University; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis has had a long and
13 distinguished career in the ministry; he was called to preach
14 in August of 1953 and became licensed and ordained shortly
15 after; after serving in pastorate positions at Mount Carmel
16 Baptist Church in Eutaw, Alabama and Infant Baptist Church in
17 Carrollton, Alabama, he moved to Chicago in 1958 and served as
18 assistant pastor of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church under the
19 pastorate of Rev. Joseph Wells; and
 
20     WHEREAS, In 1959, Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis was called to the
21 pastorate of the Second Baptist Church in Harvey, where he
22 served faithfully for 23 years; in 1982, he founded the Christ

 

 

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1 First Baptist Church in Harvey with 250 charter members; during
2 his 27 years of leadership at Christ First, he has been
3 instrumental in the creation of numerous ministries, including
4 the Weekly Radio Broadcast Ministry, the AWANA Youth Ministry,
5 and the Tutorial Program and Support Ministry; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis has traveled extensively
7 throughout the United States, performing various preaching,
8 teaching, and revival services; he has also licensed and/or
9 ordained 23 men into the Gospel Ministry under his leadership;
10 and
 
11     WHEREAS, In October of 2002, Loomis Avenue in Harvey from
12 142nd Street to 147th Street was renamed to "Rev. Dr. Napoleon
13 Davis Drive" in honor of his many accomplishments; he was also
14 the recipient of the "Doctor William J. Shaw Pastoral Ministry
15 Award for Fifty Years of Pastoral Service" in September of 2008
16 during the Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention
17 USA, Inc.; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis has been affiliated with
19 numerous civic and ministerial organizations, including the
20 Greater New Era Baptist District Association, the Baptist
21 General State Convention of Illinois, the National Baptist
22 Convention USA, Inc., the NAACP, the Harvey Human Relations
23 Commission, and the Harvey Ministerial Alliance; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis and his beloved wife,
2 Sister Estelle Davis, along with his 4 children and 8
3 grandchildren, will celebrate his 50 years of dedicated service
4 during a special event in their honor at the Christ First
5 Baptist Church in Harvey on October 11, 2009; therefore, be it
 
6     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8 congratulate Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis on the occasion of
9 celebrating his Golden Jubilee Pastoral Anniversary and wish
10 him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it
11 further
 
12     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13 presented to Rev. Dr. Napoleon Davis as a symbol of our esteem
14 and respect.