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2017 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 288
Commending Piney Grove Baptist Church.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 20, 2017

 

WHEREAS, for 121 years, Piney Grove Baptist Church has provided opportunities for joyful worship in the Baptist tradition, wise spiritual guidance, and generous outreach and leadership to the members of the Franklin community; and

WHEREAS, Piney Grove Baptist Church was formed after a revival meeting led by the Reverend Thomas Bailey in Camptown; the church was officially organized by the Reverend Guy Powell, who was then pastor of Cool Spring Church; and

WHEREAS, from 1906 to 1933, Piney Grove Baptist Church was ably led by the Reverend James W. Blackwell, who oversaw the construction and furnishing of the first sanctuary; he was succeeded by the Reverend Edgar Darnell Harrell, who presided over great spiritual and financial growth in the church community from 1935 to 1944; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend George Wiley Johnson, Jr., led Piney Grove Baptist Church from 1945 to 1986, during which time, the church completed numerous modern renovations and expanded youth outreach programs to help the congregation grow; and

WHEREAS, from 1988 to 1995, the Reverend Clarence L. Myrick expanded the Deacon Board at Piney Grove Baptist Church and strengthened youth programs, and from 1997 to 2003, the Reverend William Freeman expanded health and music ministries, adopted the Church Constitution, and established a community radio broadcast; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Melvin Boone served as interim pastor before the current pastor, the Reverend Alfred D. Brown, Sr., joined Piney Grove Baptist Church in 2004, bringing with him a vision of Love, Unity, and Excellence; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Brown helped redesign Piney Grove Baptist Church to better serve and accommodate the growing congregation and commissioned a new, inspirational church logo, that was painted on the wall behind the baptismal pool; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Brown also created new opportunities for young people through a Vacation Bible School Summer Camp, strengthened the ties between members of the congregation and the community, and greatly increased the efficiency of church operations, earning him the nickname “the Historic Pastor”; and

WHEREAS, Piney Grove Baptist Church has succeeded in its mission thanks to the devotion of its congregation, the hard work of its many deacons, clerks, secretaries, and musicians, and the support of the entire Franklin community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Piney Grove Baptist Church hereby be commended on the occasion of its 121st anniversary in 2016; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Alfred D. Brown, pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church, as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for the church’s long legacy of service to the Franklin community.