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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of

3Representatives are pleased to recognize the 50th anniversary

4of the Bethany Baptist Church in Altona on November 23, 2019; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The Bethany Baptist Church community is active and 
7welcoming to all; it is
dedicated to connecting with the 
8community and serves the people of Altona with grace; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, The origin of the church began with a meeting 
10inside the home of Mrs. Effie
Thuline's on the 22nd of November 
111969; 19 charter members were established; eager to begin

12preaching their sermon, the first official Sunday Service was 
13delivered just one day later on
November 23, 1969; without an 
14official building dedicated as the church, the sermon was

15delivered in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Loren Theesfield; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, On the following Sunday, church officers were 
17elected and began working diligently to
construct an official 
18church; Pastor John Carlson was called to be the first pastor 
19of Bethany
Baptist Church; the first service in the newly 
20constructed Church was delivered in January 1970; and
  
 
  
21    WHEREAS, The two families who started the church, the 
 
 
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1Graves and Ekstedt families, are still
active members in the 
2Bethany Baptist Church to this day; Bethany Baptist Church 
3continues to
lovingly serve the community surrounding Altona 
4and faithfully teach the Gospel to
all those who attend; 
5therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
7HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8we
congratulate the members, volunteers, and patrons of
Bethany 
9Baptist Church on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and wish 
10them
many more wonderful years; and be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

12presented to the Bethany Baptist Church members as a symbol of 
13our
esteem and respect.