093_HR0515 LRB093 13580 HSS 18951 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives are 3 pleased to honor milestone events in the lives of citizens of 4 Illinois; and 5 WHEREAS, Pastor John Gioia has faithfully served as 6 pastor of the Riverton First Baptist Church since September 7 28, 1992; and 8 WHEREAS, Pastor John Gioia has demonstrated his many 9 talents over the years as pastor, preacher, teacher, 10 musician, humorist, construction worker, shepherd, father, 11 and friend; and 12 WHEREAS, Pastor John Gioia has faithfully baptized more 13 than 100 people and has caused the Riverton First Baptist 14 Church congregation to grow from a mere handful to hundreds 15 of members; and 16 WHEREAS, Pastor John Gioia successfully led the 17 congregation through a building project, completing a new 18 building, and embarking on the construction of a building 19 addition to provide further space; and 20 WHEREAS, Pastor John Gioia and his family have been 21 called to continue service to the denomination at Foothills 22 Baptist Church in Gold Canyon, Arizona, following the morning 23 service on Sunday, October 26, 2003; and 24 WHEREAS, Pastor John Gioia and his wife, Beth, are truly 25 God's servants and a gift sent to bless the Riverton First 26 Baptist Church during the period of September 28, 1992 to 27 October 26, 2003, and they and their family are loved more 28 than words could ever express; therefore, be it 29 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 30 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that -2- LRB093 13580 HSS 18951 r 1 we congratulate Pastor John Gioia for his service at Riverton 2 First Baptist Church, wishing him and his family well as they 3 move to serve another church, and we declare October 26, 4 2003, as Pastor John Gioia Appreciation Day at Riverton First 5 Baptist Church; and be it further 6 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 7 presented to Pastor John Gioia as an expression of our 8 esteem.