HR0310 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0310 LRB103 32543 MST 62126 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Rain or Shine Missionary Baptist Church on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, The Rain or Shine Missionary Baptist Church was founded as a mission in June of 1973 by Rev. Richard J. Jones; and

WHEREAS, The mission continued to grow and was organized into a church in August of 1973; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Jones engaged in evangelism, prison ministries, and outreach ministries; the choir and other auxiliaries were established; initially, the Rain or Shine Missionary Baptist Church was affiliated with the Northwood River District Association; later, it was aligned with the Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention; and

WHEREAS, In March of 1990, a call was extended to Rev. Sidney Logwood; installation services were held the 1st Sunday of May 1990 for Pastor and Lady Sidney (Hope) Logwood; he brought a renewed focus on Bible studies, improvements to the physical plant, and involvement with others in the faith community; and

WHEREAS, The church then called on the late Rev. Jerry M. Hardy, who pastored for two years from 2004 to 2006 until he left to organize another ministry, Complete Truth Ministries International; and

WHEREAS, The Rev. James F. Echols, the former pastor of New Bethel M.B.C., served during the pastoral transition; he served as the interim pastor until he was installed on October 28, 2007; under his leadership, along with his wife, Lady Shirley Echols, great strides were made in worship, training, and evangelism; and

WHEREAS, In November of 2017, Dr. Barry L. Tidwell I was appointed as the church's current pastor, the fifth pastor to lead the church in its history; immediately, he re-instituted and taught a comprehensive Bible study program, revitalized the Church School, and developed the uses of modern technology, initiating the computerized financial, discipleship system and streams of social media to support the church membership and mission; and

WHEREAS, The importance of the family and family structure, community and political evolvement, solidarity, empowerment, and evangelism are key components of the success of the Rain or Shine Missionary Baptist Church community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Rain or Shine Missionary Baptist Church on its 50th anniversary, and we wish it many more wonderful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Rain or Shine Missionary Baptist Church as a symbol of our respect and esteem.