Bill Text: TX HR1947 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the 160th anniversary of Beech Creek Baptist Church.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-23 - Reported enrolled [HR1947 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR1947-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1947 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The members of Beech Creek Baptist Church are | ||
| marking a momentous event in the history of their church with the | ||
| celebration of its 160th anniversary in 2015; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Believed to be the oldest Baptist church in Tyler | ||
| County, Beech Creek Baptist was organized by eight charter members | ||
| on September 24, 1855, in the home of Captain James G. Collier, with | ||
| early worship services conducted in a local schoolhouse; the church | ||
| welcomed both Anglo and African Americans as members of the | ||
| congregation, and in 1867, Beech Creek ordained Henry Gainer, an | ||
| African American minister; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1892, after years of steady growth, the church | ||
| erected its first sanctuary on a parcel of land donated by Captain | ||
| Collier; the 20th century saw the organization of a Sunday school in | ||
| 1905 and later, in 1969, the construction of a building to house | ||
| educational and recreational programs; in 1989, a memorial building | ||
| fund was established and named in honor of Addie Jordan, who | ||
| rendered 75 years of faithful service to the church, and in 2011, | ||
| construction began on a new fellowship hall under the leadership of | ||
| Pastor Jack Lewellen; the 141st anniversary of the church was | ||
| celebrated with the dedication of an official Texas Historical | ||
| Marker from the Texas Historical Commission in 1996; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Since its inception, Beech Creek Baptist Church has | ||
| been guided by some 40 different pastors, many of whom were called | ||
| to serve the congregation multiple times; its devoted and | ||
| civic-minded membership has sponsored local and regional | ||
| ministries, as well as myriad outreach efforts for the benefit of | ||
| the wider community; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Beech Creek Baptist Church has long served as a | ||
| spiritual bedrock in the community, and the continued existence of | ||
| this historic church attests to the loyalty of its congregants, | ||
| past and present, whose efforts have sustained its vital mission; | ||
| now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the 160th anniversary of the | ||
| founding of Beech Creek Baptist Church and extend to its | ||
| congregation sincere best wishes for many more years of shared | ||
| prayer and fellowship; 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. | ||
| White of Tyler | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1947 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 21, 2015, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
