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2014 SPECIAL SESSION I


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5148
Commending Main Street Baptist Church.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, September 18, 2014
Agreed to by the Senate, September 18, 2014

 

WHEREAS, on October 5, 2014, Main Street Baptist Church celebrates 175 years of serving and uplifting the members of the Emporia community; and

WHEREAS, founded on July 24, 1839, by John R. Chambliss, Joseph Turner, Edward Fisher, and Rebecca Goodwyn, Main Street Baptist Church was originally known as Hicksford Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, even before the construction of its first sanctuary in 1845, Hicksford Baptist Church served a congregation of more than 30 individuals; the church was active in its early years and offered a Sunday school program to the community in 1846; and

WHEREAS, in 1903, Hicksford Baptist Church hired its first full-time minister—J. M. Dunnaway—and built a parsonage that stood until 1958; the backyard of the original parsonage is now the site of the Main Street Baptist Church prayer garden; and

WHEREAS, Hicksford Baptist Church officially changed its name to Main Street Baptist Church in 1906 and began construction on a new brick sanctuary in 1912; the church continued to grow throughout the 1950s and 1960s, adding an educational building and additional parking spaces for the growing congregation; and

WHEREAS, Main Street Baptist Church began construction on its current sanctuary in 1976 and held services in the educational building until its completion in 1978; and

WHEREAS, throughout its history, Main Street Baptist Church maintained a proud tradition of mission work, supporting the creation of the Zion Baptist Church and Park Avenue Baptist Church as well as missions throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Main Street Baptist Church serves the community through a wide variety of ministry programs, including the Baptist Brotherhood, Women on Mission, and Young at Heart; the church also organizes annual mission trips and sponsors three college scholarships for local youths; and

WHEREAS, Main Street Baptist Church has inspired youth in the community to live their faith through their actions, and several former members of the congregation have attended seminary and pursued careers in Christian ministry; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Main Street Baptist Church on the occasion of its 175th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Dr. Ricky R. Hurst, pastor of Main Street Baptist Church, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for its storied history and contributions to the Emporia community.