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2017 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1018
Commending Ivy Baptist Church.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2017
Agreed to by the Senate, February 22, 2017

 

WHEREAS, for 110 years, Ivy Baptist Church has served and supported the Newport News community through spiritual leadership, generous outreach, and joyful worship in the Baptist tradition; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1906 by a group of Christians seeking a place to worship in the Dawson City community of Warwick County, Ivy Baptist Church was originally known as First Baptist Church of Dawson City, with the Reverend James Carr as its first pastor; and

WHEREAS, the Ivy Baptist Church School also traces its history back to 1906, when classes were held before Sunday services; the school continues to support the church by providing Christian education; and

WHEREAS, First Baptist Church of Dawson City held its first services in a Bush Harbor between H Street and I Street, then was renamed as First Baptist Church 18th Street after it relocated to the 500 block of 18th Street, where the congregation experienced many years of growth and prosperity; and

WHEREAS, in 1952, First Baptist Church relocated to a new building on Ivy Avenue and became Ivy Avenue Baptist Church; the church was renamed Ivy Baptist Church and held its first services at its current location on Maple Avenue in 1972; and

WHEREAS, over the years, the church benefited from the able leadership of the Reverend Samuel Brown, the Reverend James M. Bray, and the Reverend U. L. Charity; and

WHEREAS, the W. Henry Maxwell Family Life Center, named for the fifth pastor of Ivy Baptist Church, was dedicated in 1999 to provide new opportunities for the congregation; soon thereafter, the church established the Ivy Achievers program, the Clothing Ministry, and the Food and Share Ministry to serve the community; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Kevin G. Swann was elected pastor of Ivy Baptist Church in 2006; he has overseen numerous renovations and enhancements to the church grounds, the creation of the Community Outreach celebration, and a technology ministry that offers on-demand Bible study and opportunities to view services on the Internet; and

WHEREAS, Ivy Baptist Church maintains a long legacy of community outreach; in 2016 alone, hundreds of families received assistance through the church’s food and clothing distribution ministries, and more than 2,000 people received a Thanksgiving dinner at three locations through the Feed the Hungry program; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, Ivy Baptist Church had more than 2,269 members, including 110 new members, and 52 active ministries, ensuring that the congregation will continue to be a beacon of hope and faith in the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ivy Baptist Church on the occasion of its 110th 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. Kevin G. Swann, pastor of Ivy Baptist Church, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the church’s storied history and many contributions to the community.