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2020 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 7
Commending New Gilfield Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 13, 2020

 

WHEREAS, for 110 years, New Gilfield Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church has provided generous community outreach services and opportunities for spiritual growth to the residents of Victoria; and

WHEREAS, New Gilfield Reformed Zion Union Apostolic (RZUA) Church was established in September 1909 by members of the Wilkerson, Bailey, Allen, Hites, and Manning families with the Reverend William Chapman as the first pastor; and

WHEREAS, many other local families, including the Feggins, Brown, Hardy, Edmonds, Glasgow, Stokes, Tisdale, and Taylor families, helped the New Gilfield RZUA Church grow in faith and numbers in its early days; and

WHEREAS, after the original building was destroyed by a fire in 1929, members of New Gilfield RZUA Church purchased the land where the current sanctuary is located; and

WHEREAS, New Gilfield RZUA Church has benefited from the wise leadership of 15 pastors, including the Reverend Hilman Wright, who served for 35 years and oversaw numerous enhancements to the church building; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, the Reverend Lewis D. Knight became the pastor of New Gilfield RZUA Church and ushered in a new era of community service by increasing the number of worship services and establishing new ministries to engage with local young people; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, New Gilfield RZUA Church broke ground on a new sanctuary, which was completed the following year; the former sanctuary was remodeled as a fellowship hall to better serve the congregation; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Anita Lewis was appointed as pastor of New Gilfield RZUA Church in 2015 and upheld the church’s commitment to fellowship and outreach until 2017, when the Reverend Dr. James H. Simmons, Jr., was called as pastor; and

WHEREAS, under Dr. Simmons’ leadership, New Gilfield RZUA Church has developed its first mission statement and vision statement and has set forth its set of core values; he has overseen the creation of a women’s retreat and a ministry for young men; and

WHEREAS, New Gilfield RZUA Church has provided a spiritual home for generations of families in Victoria; the church has succeeded in its mission through the hard work and dedication of its Trustee Board, deacons, administrative staff, and countless volunteers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That New Gilfield Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church hereby be commended on the occasion of its 110th anniversary in 2019; 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. James H. Simmons, Jr., pastor of New Gilfield Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church, as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for the church’s legacy of spiritual leadership and contributions to the Victoria community.