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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives wish to recognize Pastor John H. Sr. and | ||||||
| 4 | Minister Movita Rice for over 50 years of dedication to the | ||||||
| 5 | ministry; and
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| 6 | WHEREAS, Pastor Rice was born in Starkville, Mississippi | ||||||
| 7 | and moved to Chicago Heights at the age of four; after | ||||||
| 8 | graduating high school, he spent two years in Los Angeles; he | ||||||
| 9 | returned to Chicago Heights in 1959 to marry Movita Tate; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Pastor Rice was appointed to St. Bethel M.B. | ||||||
| 11 | Church in 1970; after 40 years of dedicated service, he retired | ||||||
| 12 | from his role of pastor, but not from preaching; as pastor, he | ||||||
| 13 | organized many community outreach ministries, including | ||||||
| 14 | clothing drives, community feedings, Thanksgiving and | ||||||
| 15 | Christmas food baskets, and Christmas toy drives; and
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| 16 | WHEREAS, Pastor Rice's greatest accomplishment was the | ||||||
| 17 | development of the Bethel Community Facility (BCF), a 25,000 | ||||||
| 18 | square foot edifice often referred to as "The Miracle of | ||||||
| 19 | Portland Avenue"; the facility offers many services to | ||||||
| 20 | low-income individuals, including after-school tutoring, | ||||||
| 21 | computer training, rent and utility assistance, GED programs, | ||||||
| 22 | emergency food and shelter, performing arts camp, summer day | ||||||
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| 1 | camp, a fully-equipped medical center and pharmacy, and a 5,400 | ||||||
| 2 | square foot gymnasium; and
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| 3 | WHEREAS, As Executive Director of the BCF, Pastor Rice | ||||||
| 4 | spearheaded a program for the homeless that provided free | ||||||
| 5 | showers, barber and cosmetology services, health screenings, | ||||||
| 6 | job training and placement, mailboxes, meals, and ID cards; in | ||||||
| 7 | 2004, a shelter and warming center were added to the program; | ||||||
| 8 | and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, Pastor Rice's other accomplishments include | ||||||
| 10 | opening Bethel Annex, a 50,000 square foot building used to | ||||||
| 11 | house local businesses, new entrepreneurs, and expanded | ||||||
| 12 | community programs; and
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| 13 | WHEREAS, Pastor Rice has received many awards and | ||||||
| 14 | recognitions, including a Letter of Proclamation from the City | ||||||
| 15 | of Chicago Heights that declares the fourth Sunday in June | ||||||
| 16 | "Rev. John H. Rice Day," the Dr. Charles E. Gavin Top Brass | ||||||
| 17 | Award, the Chicago Heights City Council Dreamer of the Year | ||||||
| 18 | Award, the renaming of Fifth Avenue to "Rev. John H. Rice Way," | ||||||
| 19 | and letters of congratulations from President Clinton, | ||||||
| 20 | President Obama, and Governor Quinn; and
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| 21 | WHEREAS, Pastor and Minister Rice have touched many lives | ||||||
| 22 | during their years of dedicated service and are most proud of | ||||||
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| 1 | answering the call to serve other people; therefore, be it
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| 2 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 3 | HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | ||||||
| 4 | recognize Pastor John H. Sr. and Minister Movita Rice, and we | ||||||
| 5 | commend their years of dedication to the ministry; and be it | ||||||
| 6 | further
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| 7 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 8 | presented to Pastor and Minister Rice as an expression of our | ||||||
| 9 | esteem and respect.
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