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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The members of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in |
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San Antonio celebrated the 75th anniversary of their church's |
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founding in June 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, Antioch was organized on June 7, 1935, by 53 charter |
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members, who soon welcomed the Reverend Rufus Wilson as their |
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pastor; the congregation worshiped in a tent in a member's backyard |
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and then in a laundry building before moving to its current location |
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on the corner of Nolan and Walters Streets, where an old house was |
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renovated for worship; the church was upgraded again in 1947; and |
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WHEREAS, The Reverend John Joseph Rector assumed the pulpit |
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in 1952, and during his 40-year tenure Antioch grew and prospered, |
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sponsoring a housing development in the late 1960s and building a |
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new sanctuary in 1974; following Pastor Rector's death in 1993, the |
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Reverend E. Thurman Walker stepped up to lead the church into the |
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new millennium; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Pastor Walker's leadership, the church opened |
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a school, Antioch Christian Academy, in 1995 and established a |
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community development program, the Antioch Community |
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Transformation Network, in 2000; the Antioch Sports Complex and |
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Community Center, which followed in 2005, features an |
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NCAA-regulation basketball and volleyball court, a walking track, |
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fitness equipment, and an aerobics and dance studio; since the |
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passing of Reverend Walker in 2009, the congregation has been led by |
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the Reverend Kenneth R. Kemp; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless San Antonio residents have looked to |
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Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for spiritual enrichment and |
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guidance through the years, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring |
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the church at this special time in its rich history; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of Antioch |
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Missionary Baptist Church and extend to its members and clergy |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |