HR0722 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0722 LRB098 15275 MST 50297 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Progressive Baptist Church in Aurora on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, Progressive Baptist Church was organized in 1963 and held its first service in the Little Theatre of East Aurora High School on December 4th of that year; under the tutelage of the Reverend Robert Wesby, the church began with a congregation of 11 people; and

WHEREAS, Progressive Baptist Church moved to a location on North Lincoln Avenue in September 1966, where it remained for 42 years; ground was broken in 2006 for a new location on Barnes Road, which opened in 2008; and

WHEREAS, The Reverend Roy R. Brown took over as Senior Pastor in September 1988, and, under his leadership, Progressive Baptist Church saw its average attendance grow to 275 people, with a membership of over 500; and

WHEREAS, Upon Reverend Brown's retirement in December of 2012, the Reverend Kevin James Bedford was installed as Senior Pastor on August 25, 2013; and

WHEREAS, A celebration banquet will be held on December 7, 2013 at Gaslite Manor in Aurora; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Progressive Baptist Church on its 50th anniversary, and wish it many more successful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Progressive Baptist Church as an expression of our esteem and respect.