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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The members of Beech Creek Baptist Church are |
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marking a momentous event in the history of their church with the |
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celebration of its 160th anniversary in 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Believed to be the oldest Baptist church in Tyler |
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County, Beech Creek Baptist was organized by eight charter members |
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on September 24, 1855, in the home of Captain James G. Collier, with |
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early worship services conducted in a local schoolhouse; the church |
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welcomed both Anglo and African Americans as members of the |
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congregation, and in 1867, Beech Creek ordained Henry Gainer, an |
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African American minister; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1892, after years of steady growth, the church |
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erected its first sanctuary on a parcel of land donated by Captain |
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Collier; the 20th century saw the organization of a Sunday school in |
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1905 and later, in 1969, the construction of a building to house |
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educational and recreational programs; in 1989, a memorial building |
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fund was established and named in honor of Addie Jordan, who |
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rendered 75 years of faithful service to the church, and in 2011, |
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construction began on a new fellowship hall under the leadership of |
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Pastor Jack Lewellen; the 141st anniversary of the church was |
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celebrated with the dedication of an official Texas Historical |
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Marker from the Texas Historical Commission in 1996; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, Beech Creek Baptist Church has |
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been guided by some 40 different pastors, many of whom were called |
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to serve the congregation multiple times; its devoted and |
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civic-minded membership has sponsored local and regional |
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ministries, as well as myriad outreach efforts for the benefit of |
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the wider community; and |
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WHEREAS, Beech Creek Baptist Church has long served as a |
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spiritual bedrock in the community, and the continued existence of |
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this historic church attests to the loyalty of its congregants, |
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past and present, whose efforts have sustained its vital mission; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 160th anniversary of the |
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founding of Beech Creek Baptist Church and extend to its |
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congregation sincere best wishes for many more years of shared |
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prayer and fellowship; 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. |