HR0129 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0129 LRB099 09023 MST 29208 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church in Urbana on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, The Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church was organized on February 22, 1911 by the Executive Board of the Terre Haute Quarterly Conference of the Freewill Baptist General Conference; and

WHEREAS, The Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church traces back to the Freewill doctrine, a movement that began in the 1600s that believes a person can determine his or her fate and be saved, no matter how "sinful" their past, if they are "born again" and live according to the Bible; and

WHEREAS, The Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church was organized in a small building on North Hickory Street in Champaign under the leadership of its first elected minister, Rev. L.W. Wilber; shortly thereafter, the church moved to a location on West Church Street in Urbana and, later, to its present site at the corner of Eads and Romine; and

WHEREAS, The groundbreaking for the Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church's present location was held on May 5, 1968, and it opened in January of 1969; and

WHEREAS, The Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church is currently led by Vice Bishop Jimmie O. Holmes, Sr.; and

WHEREAS, The Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church is proud to be the oldest African-American church in Urbana; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church on its 104th anniversary and wish them many more years of success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Morning Star Freewill Baptist Church as an expression of our esteem and respect.