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2008 SESSION

089342654
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 25
Offered March 6, 2008
Commending Ebenezer Baptist Church on its 125th anniversary.
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Patrons-- Nichols, Frederick, Lingamfelter, Marshall, R.G. and Miller, J.H.
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WHEREAS, Ebenezer Baptist Church, a congregation of faithful believers located in Woodbridge, celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2008, the church was founded by a freed slave, Lewis Henry Bailey, who walked from Texas to Virginia to rejoin his family after emancipation; and

WHEREAS, in 1881, seven years after the incorporation of the Town of Occoquan, land was purchased for the erection of the church’s first edifice, and Ebenezer Baptist Church was the first Negro church established in that part of Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, working with devout men and women who toiled diligently to establish a church home for themselves and their descendants, the Reverend Lewis Henry Bailey led the church in laying the cornerstone for its building in May 1883; and

WHEREAS, since 1883 the congregation has paused on the first Sunday in May of each year to commemorate the laying of the cornerstone and to express thanksgiving and gratitude unto God for His many blessings; and

WHEREAS, on the first Sunday in May 1914, the church held the largest baptismal ceremony at the Occoquan River in the history of the church, welcoming into its fold 40 converts to the Christian faith; and

WHEREAS, from its humble beginnings, Ebenezer Baptist Church has continued to grow, prosper, and expand, becoming a vital and active congregation that serves and ministers to the spiritual and physical needs of congregants and the community through its vast outreach programs; and

WHEREAS, Ebenezer Baptist Church is a warm and inviting church family whose mantra is “We are a family of friends and a friend to the family,” and whose many ministries are biblically based and designed to meet the spiritual needs of every member, promote unity and faithfulness to the Christian walk, support the renewal and reunion of families, provide and encourage Bible study for all ages, and offer special events, activities and sports for children and various adult programs to facilitate a well-rounded approach to helping families draw closer to one another and to God; and

WHEREAS, Ebenezer Baptist Church provides diverse opportunities and wholesome experiences through its several ministries for members and the community to become engaged in personal growth and service to others, and the ministries include the Diaconal Ministry, Trustee Ministry, Mountain Men Ministry, Women's Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry, Christian Counseling Ministry, Nehemiah Project Ministry, Bookstore Ministry, Prison Ministry, Music Ministry, Usher’s Ministry, Academy Day Care Center Sports Ministry, Tutoring Ministry, Email Ministry, Senior Citizen Ministry, Christian Education Ministry, Media Ministry, Boy Scouts, Employment Center, Missionary Ministry, Ministry of Medicine, Transportation Ministry, Communications Ministry, Outreach Ministry, The Washington Bible College, and the Woodbridge Toastmasters Club; and

WHEREAS, the church’s role and ministry in the community has grown over many years, and on June 23, 1990, God called and the people affirmed the Reverend Charles A. Lundy as pastor to lead the church through the difficult and arduous task of constructing a larger sanctuary to accommodate the fast growing church family; and

WHEREAS, under Reverend Lundy’s leadership, believing that “with God all things are possible,” the church has experienced tremendous progress and has continued to honor its legacy of building for the future, and the church family is waiting with excited anticipation to dedicate its new sanctuary and Family Life Center; and

WHEREAS, together with the abiding faith and dedication of its members and its outstanding ministries, and working cooperatively with other churches to address pressing community needs, the recent expansion of the church enables it to enter its second century of service to the Woodbridge community and the Commonwealth on “the Rock,” a sure and solid foundation; and

WHEREAS, although Ebenezer Baptist Church has reached a significant milestone in its history, “it does not yet appear the great things that lay ahead for it”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Ebenezer Baptist Church, on its 125th anniversary, hereby be commended; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Charles A. Lundy, Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, as an expression of the House of Delegates’ appreciation and recognition of the church’s outstanding contributions to Woodbridge and the Commonwealth.