S*0774 Resolution, By Scott, Alexander, Allen, Bennett, Bright, Bryant, 
Campbell, Campsen, Cleary, Coleman, Corbin, Courson, Cromer, Davis, Fair, 
Gregory, Grooms, Hayes, Hembree, Hutto, Jackson, Johnson, Kimpson, Leatherman, 
Lourie, Malloy, L. Martin, S. Martin, Massey, Matthews, McElveen, Nicholson, 
O'Dell, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Sabb, Setzler, Shealy, Sheheen, 
Thurmond, Turner, Verdin, Williams and Young
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH UPON
 THE OCCASION OF ITS QUASQUICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY AND TO CONGRATULATE REVEREND
 ROCK E. SIMS AND THE CONGREGATION FOR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF
 MINISTRY TO THE COMMUNITY.

   05/13/15  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 8)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS QUASQUICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY AND TO CONGRATULATE REVEREND ROCK E. SIMS AND THE CONGREGATION FOR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF MINISTRY TO THE COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to learn that Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church will celebrate its one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary on the weekend of May 15 to 17, 2015. Friday evening the church will celebrate the burning of the title for the church bus with a sing out, followed by a church picnic on Saturday, and the anniversary celebration on Sunday; and

Whereas, founded in 1890 by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Whitaker, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Long, and Mr. and Mrs. Moses Young, the church began in a small brush arbor near the Killian community of northern Richland County on property donated by Mr. and Mrs. Long and was originally called Long's Chapel; and

Whereas, named Mount Pilgrim Church by Mrs. Maggie Barnes Whitaker, the church erected its first building in 1897, which was also used as a school from the early 1900s until about 1951; and

Whereas, the first pastor of the church, Reverend C. C. Leaphart, served only for a short time. He was followed by the Reverends Sanka Roof, G. J. West, Nelson, L. Peay, Sherman Ross, H. E. Taylor, Radin, J. H. Robinson, J. Spigner, C. J. Jackson, and Leon R. Dickerson. Reverend Dickerson served as pastor for thirty-three years and retired in 2004. Reverend Lawrence L. Burwell, Sr., and Reverend Rock E. Sims were appointed co-ministers in 2004, and Reverend Sims was installed as pastor in 2006; and

Whereas, Mount Pilgrim was rebuilt in 1924, and a new church building was constructed in 1958, followed by the C. J. Jackson Educational Building in 1969 and a complete renovation with the addition of a baptistery in 1978. After the educational building was enlarged in 1990, a structure for the church bell was erected in 2001, and the church was renovated again by June 2004; and

Whereas, following the acquisition of adjacent property, a new parking lot was built in 2008, and a new fellowship hall was completed in 2011. Other additions have included a new conference room in the education building, a storage shed to house church equipment, and the purchase of a golf cart and a church bus to transport church members and guests; and

Whereas, the ministry of Mount Pilgrim has included the deacon ministry, deaconess ministry, trustees' ministry, Sunday school, prayer service and Bible study, vacation Bible school, executive board of missions, and senior and junior ushers' ministry; and

Whereas, included in the youth ministry are praise dancers, a step team, and a mime team; and the music ministry consists of the musical choir, male chorus, sanctuary choir, Jubilee Choir, the C. J. Jackson Sunbeam Choir, and the L. R. Dickerson Youth Choir; and

Whereas, in 2010, the missionary society, Church Aide Club, and women's fellowship merged to form the women's ministry; and

Whereas, Mount Pilgrim, a member of the Gethsemane Baptist Association, was granted status as an eleemosynary organization in 2006, and in 2009, the church purchased and dedicated new hymnals, established the church web page, and designated Mother Bessie Waiters Moore as "Church Mother"; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is grateful for the ministry of Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in northern Richland County and the members celebrate the joyous milestone of the church's one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary with Pastor Sims and the congregation. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church upon the occasion of its quasquicentennial anniversary and congratulate Reverend Rock E. Sims and the congregation for one hundred twenty five years of ministry to the community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Rock E. Sims.