H*5400 Concurrent Resolution, By Allen
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE DR. ROBERT E. DENNIS,
 PASTOR OF CEDAR GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN SIMPSONVILLE, ON HIS THIRTY-FIVE YEARS
 AT CEDAR GROVE AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO HIM IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE
 ENDEAVORS.

   06/01/04  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-52
   06/01/04  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-16

TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE DR. ROBERT E. DENNIS, PASTOR OF CEDAR GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN SIMPSONVILLE, ON HIS THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AT CEDAR GROVE AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO HIM IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, a graduate of Bryson High School in Fountain Inn, Dr. Robert E. Dennis attended the Greenville Extension of the American Baptist Theological Seminary and later received his Bachelor of Theology degree from Morris College in Sumter; and

Whereas, professing Christianity at the age of twelve, following baptism Pastor Dennis was accorded membership in the Reedy Fork Baptist Church, which later licensed him to preach, and in 1990, Benedict College bestowed upon him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree; and

Whereas, after becoming pastor of the Holly Springs Baptist Church in 1968, Pastor Dennis was ordained by the Reedy River Baptist Association and in 1969, he assumed the pastorate of the Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Simpsonville, where he has served for thirty-five years; and

Whereas, under his dynamic and progressive leadership, Cedar Grove has experienced both physical and spiritual growth with Pastor Dennis leading the congregation in organizing twenty-six ministries, constructing a $330,000 edifice, the purchase of two vans, and the building of a $2.3 million Family Development Center which ministers to community needs from a holistic perspective; and

Whereas, in addition to being the pastor at Cedar Grove, Pastor Dennis is also the Chairman of the Mission Ministry of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, SHARE's Board of Directors, the Peg Leg Bates' Foundation, and a member of the Race Relations Committee of Greenville Chamber of Commerce; and

Whereas, involved in a wide range of community organizations, Pastor Dennis has been a member of the Board of Directors for Greenville County Department of Social Services, the Communities in Schools' Board of Directors, and the Advisory Board for Hillcrest Hospital; and

Whereas, Pastor Dennis has won numerous awards for his work within the community including the Cooper White Humanitarian Award from the Greenville County Human Relations Commission, the Silver Crescent presented by Governor Jim Hodges, and was listed among the Greenville News' New Millennium's 500 Most Influential Individuals in the Greenville area; and

Whereas, although he has spent a vast amount of time working for the community, Pastor Dennis also finds time to spend with his family including his lovely wife Mary, their two children, Elaine McCrary and Caroline Neely, and their four grandchildren; and

Whereas, throughout the past thirty-five years, Dr. Robert Dennis has led the Cedar Grove Baptist Church with love and faith in the Lord and his spiritual strength will continue for many more years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate Dr. Robert E. Dennis, Pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Simpsonville, on his thirty-five years at Cedar Grove and extend best wishes to him in all of his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Dr. Dennis.