A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH OF SPARTANBURG ON THE OCCASION OF ITS HISTORIC ONE HUNDRED TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND TO COMMEND THE CHURCH FOR NEARLY A CENTURY AND A QUARTER OF SERVICE TO GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

 

Whereas, having been founded in 1905, Cornerstone Baptist Church of Spartanburg is celebrating its historic one hundred twentieth anniversary in 2025; and

 

Whereas, located at its beginning on the corner of Wofford and Thompson streets, the Thompson Chapel Church, as it was then called, was organized as a Congregational church by the Reverend Mack. In 1909, the Reverend Layman Morgan moved his fledgling flock, which had only a few members at that time, to a location on North Thompson Street; and

 

Whereas, in 1949, the Reverend B.T. Sears began his service as pastor, and within a year under his ministry, the church had tripled in membership. In God's time, after having served the northwest side of Spartanburg for sixty-seven years, the church secured the Morningside Baptist Church building on the corner of South Converse Street and Collins Avenue as a good location for Thompson Chapel Church and changed its name to Cornerstone Baptist Church. The first worship service at the new location was held in 1976, and the newly renamed Cornerstone Baptist continued to grow tremendously under Dr. Sears' leadership, which lasted almost fifty years until his passing; and

 

Whereas, under God's leading, in 2000 the church called as its new pastor the Reverend Charles Jerome Junious Jackson III, who has continued to build the church on the foundation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Under Pastor Jackson's leadership, the church has grown still more in spirit and number. Pastor Jackson has led Cornerstone in developing twenty new ministries, including a television outreach, The Joy of the Lord, which airs on two television networks each week; and

 

Whereas, all of Cornerstone's labor for the Lord has been done toward the accomplishment of its high mission: "To know Christ and to make him known through worship and service"; and

 

Whereas, standing on the faith and strength of its early pastors and members, Cornerstone Baptist Church's present congregation "press[s] toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14), continuing to preach and teach the Word of God; and

 

Whereas, Cornerstone Baptist Church has been a beacon of light and a community worship center in the Spartanburg area for one hundred twenty years, and, God willing, will continue its godly heritage for many more years of worship and service. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate Cornerstone Baptist Church of Spartanburg on the occasion of its historic one hundred twentieth anniversary and commend the church for nearly a century and a quarter of service to God and the community.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Cornerstone Baptist Church.

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