Bill 385

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       385
Type of Legislation:               Senate Resolution SR
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19970218
Primary Sponsor:                   Moore 
All Sponsors:                      Moore 
Drafted Document Number:           bbm\9165jm.97
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:      19970218
Subject:                           Park Missionary Baptist Church,
                                   Aiken County, Resolutions

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19970218  Introduced, adopted

A SENATE RESOLUTION

SALUTING PARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF AIKEN COUNTY ON THE HAPPY OCCASION OF THE CHURCH'S ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF WORSHIP.

Whereas, Park Missionary Baptist Church of Aiken County was organized on Sunday, April 14, 1872 by Reverend Hardy Sapp during the period of Reconstruction and only nine short years after emancipation, the church was located near Myers Mill on the east side of Pen Branch, which is now known as the Savannah River Site; and

Whereas, when the church was organized one hundred twenty-five years ago, six deacons were transferred from the old Runs Baptist Church; those persons were Deacons Adam Allen, W. M. Boyd, Milton Jones, Quilton Jones, John Givens, and Audrich Williams; at a later time, Brother Andrew Chisholm became a member and was ordained as a deacon; and

Whereas, the church remained on the east side of Pen Branch until 1899, when it was moved and rebuilt on the west side of Pen Branch; the church thrived at this location until 1938, when under the leadership of Reverend W. M. Moody, the church's pastor, it was moved near Highway 28 northwest of Pen Branch; and

Whereas, in 1950 the United States Atomic Energy Commission announced that its new production plants would be located in Aiken and Barnwell counties near the Savannah River; approximately 250,000 acres of land were needed for the site, and Park Missionary Baptist Church was located within this area; a search committee was chosen to find a new location for the church, and the committee purchased 23.2 acres of land in early 1952; the church was then moved to its new location that same year, which is southwest of its present sanctuary; and

Whereas, dedication services were held on Sunday, October 1, 1978, for the present sanctuary, preceded by a three-night revival; and on December 2, 1990, Reverend Alex E. Williams was installed amid great celebration as the church's eighth and current pastor; and

Whereas, the church is known lovingly by the members and the community as "the Park"; the Park has grown tremendously in the past one hundred twenty-five years and is today a dynamic and flourishing congregation; and

Whereas, the Park is committed to serving the community and has richly succeeded in this endeavor over the years in countless ways; and

Whereas, anyone who is a member of the Park is fortunate and blessed; the church is a genuine beacon of light guiding souls and the community heavenward, toward that which lasts forever; and

Whereas, on April 14, 1997, the members of the Park will commemorate their one hundred twenty-fifth year of worship; this will be a joyous occasion for a church with such a glorious history of both struggle and amazing achievement, and we are greatly honored and pleased to have this opportunity to recognize this wonderful congregation at this special time in their history. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, salute Park Missionary Baptist Church of Aiken County on the happy occasion of the church's one hundred twenty-fifth year of worship..

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the pastor and members of Park Missionary Baptist Church.