| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Members of Smith Point Community Church, in Chambers |
|
|
County, are gathering on April 29, 2017, to dedicate an Official |
|
|
Texas Historical Marker honoring that venerable congregation; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Beginning in the late 1800s, circuit-riding Baptist |
|
|
preachers held monthly religious services for residents in the |
|
|
area, first under the trees and later in the local schoolhouse, |
|
|
which also functioned as a community fellowship center; eventually, |
|
|
a second school was built to accommodate a growing population, and |
|
|
that structure is used as the church's sanctuary to this day; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Brother Hollis and Addie Newman officially |
|
|
reorganized Smith Point Baptist Church in 1948 with the assistance |
|
|
of Mark and Richard "Dick" Whittington; the Reverend L. J. Hand |
|
|
served as the congregation's first pastor; in 2007, the name was |
|
|
changed to Smith Point Community Church to reflect the church's |
|
|
status as the only religious institution in the area; the Reverend |
|
|
Michael K. Graves currently leads the bilingual congregation, which |
|
|
worships in both English and Spanish; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, For more than 100 years, Smith Point Community |
|
|
Church has been a source of inspiration and guidance to area |
|
|
residents, and this recognition from the Texas Historical |
|
|
Commission is a fitting tribute to the steadfastness of its members |
|
|
and to the significant role the church has played in building a |
|
|
strong and caring community; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an Official Texas |
|
|
Historical Marker at Smith Point Community Church and extend to the |
|
|
church's clergy, congregation, and guests sincere best wishes for a |
|
|
meaningful and memorable event; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Faircloth |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 660 was adopted by the House on March |
|
|
9, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |