HR1226 LRB096 22283 KXB 41260 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate Pastor John H.
4 Rice, Sr., of St. Bethel Church in Chicago Heights on his
5 retirement; and
 
6     WHEREAS, He was born in Starkville, Mississippi and moved
7 to Chicago Heights at the age of 4; he attended Franklin
8 Elementary School, Washington Junior High, and Bloom Township
9 High School; he attended LA City College, Chicago Baptist
10 Institute, Moody Bible Institute, received an A.A. degree from
11 Prairie State College, and received his B.A. from Governors
12 State University; and
 
13     WHEREAS, He became the Pastor of St. Bethel Church on June
14 8, 1970; his dream was to build and open the Bethel Community
15 Facility; today it is known as the "Miracle on Portland Street"
16 and houses a doctor's office, pharmacy, banquet room,
17 gymnasium, and classrooms; the facility provides showers,
18 food, clothing, and lodging for the homeless year round, and
19 offers several programs for the community, including job
20 training; and
 
21     WHEREAS, He later opened the Bethel Annex, which serves as
22 a warming and cooling center for the homeless; and
 

 

 

HR1226 - 2 - LRB096 22283 KXB 41260 r

1     WHEREAS, During his pastorate he has ordained 25 male
2 ministers and 15 female ministers; and
 
3     WHEREAS, His proud family includes his wife, Movita Tate;
4 their children, Pastor John Rice, Jr. (wife, Minister Cherry
5 Rice), Sharlolanda Rice-Ambrose (husband, Minister Claude
6 Ambrose), Kyle J. Harrison, and Kandace Walker; their
7 grandchildren are Minister Andrae Ambrose (wife, Arletha
8 Ambrose), Dyonna Harrison, Netanya Rice, and Steven Harrison,
9 Jr.; therefore, be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
12 congratulate Pastor Rice on his retirement and wish him all the
13 best in his future endeavors; and be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to Pastor John H. Rice, Sr., as a symbol of our
16 respect and esteem.