HR1187

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation 
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and pastor of First Baptist Church of Melrose Park on the 
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occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the church; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The first meeting of the First Baptist Church of 
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Melrose Park was held at 110 North 22nd Avenue in Melrose Park; 
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Reverend William Baldwin presided and later served as founding 
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pastor; the Church adopted the name The First Colored Baptist 
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Church of Melrose Park; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, During the pastorate of the late Reverend W. 
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Thomas, the church purchased property in 1920 to build a new 
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church building; this effort was eventually discontinued; the 
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name was changed to First Baptist Church of Melrose Park on 
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November 22, 1922 during the pastorate of Rev. G.B. Donaldson; 
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and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Reverend B.S.J. Ford became the 6th pastor of 
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First Baptist Church in 1932; under Pastor Ford, First Baptist 
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built its first church building in 1945; due to the Church's 
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income at the time, as well as banking practices during the 
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1940s, First Baptist was allowed to build a house without 
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interior walls or a basement for use as its church building; a 
 


 






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foyer area and basement were later added; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Church has had eight locations to the present 
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date;

Reverend Harry McNelty served as Assistant Pastor to 
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Pastor Ford for six months and became the 7th pastor of First 
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Baptist on September 18, 1959; under Pastor McNelty's 
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leadership, First Baptist Church achieved much of its progress; 
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a new edifice was built at 2114 Main Street in 1966, new 
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auxiliaries and groups were instituted to meet the needs of the 
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congregation, an addition to the new church was completed in 
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1978, a new bus and van were purchased, and property around the 
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Church was purchased; and
 
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    WHEREAS, A preschool and school, named after Pastor 
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McNelty, were founded in 1985 and the physical plant was 
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constructed in 1990, with an addition completed in 2001; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Reverend John L. Belser became the 8th Pastor of 
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First Baptist on April 5, 2002; under his leadership, First 
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Baptist has restructured ministries to address membership and 
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community needs, began radio and television broadcasts, 
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instituted children's church and enhanced youth ministry, 
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launched an Internet website and enjoyed tremendous growth 
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spiritually, numerically, and financially; plans are currently 
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underway for the relocation of First Baptist Church to larger 
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facilities; therefore, be it
  
 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the congregation and Pastor Belser on the 93rd 
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anniversary of First Baptist Church of Melrose Park; and be it 
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further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Reverend Belser and the congregation of First 
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Baptist Church of Melrose Park as a symbol of our respect and 
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esteem.