HR0859 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0859 LRB093 21670 HSS 49310 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Church of Zion on the occasion of its 20th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Church held its first service on June 17, 1984, at the Zion Leisure Center in Zion, under the pastorship of Brother John Hurst; there were 7 people in attendance; regular Bible study was held in the home of Sister Ruth Cecil on Thursday evenings, and the average attendance was 6 people; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Church is named in honor of Reverend Garfield Thomas, one of the founders of Coleman Chapel in Kenosha, Wisconsin; in April of 1932, Garfield Thomas became a local preacher in the Kenosha area; in 1938, he was ordained a deacon, and later, he was ordained an elder; he served as an associate minister at Coleman Chapel; he passed away in October of 1963; and

WHEREAS, On September 30, 1984, Brother John Hurst was appointed pastor of Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Church by Bishop S.S. Morris at the Chicago Annual Conference; in March of 1986, land was purchased for the future home of the church, made possible by Mr. Charles Chatman and Mrs. Mildred Chatman signing for the loan; the total cost of the land was $15,488; and

WHEREAS, In May of 1987, blueprints and building plans were purchased; on January 31, 1988, Pastor Hurst and the congregation celebrated the reality of a dream at their groundbreaking ceremony; and

WHEREAS, In 2 years, the land for the church was paid for in full; in August of 1988, construction began; the first service in the new church was held on May 16, 1989, and the church was dedicated on May 28, 1989 by Bishop Frank Madison Reid, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Church sponsors many ministries, including Meals on Wheels for Zion Township, a prison ministry, monthly visits to several nursing homes in the area, and donation of items and clothes to the Stable House of Waukegan; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Church of Zion on the occasion of its 20th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Church as an expression of our respect and esteem.