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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the pastor and
4 congregation of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church Worship
5 Center in Chicago on the 75th anniversary of the church and
6 congratulates Senior Pastor Reverend Stephen J. Thurston on his
7 30th anniversary of pastoral ministry; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The church was founded in 1934 by the late
9 Reverend Elijah Thurston; the church was called the 44th Street
10 Baptist Church and was located at 44th & Evans Street; and
 
11     WHEREAS, 44th Street Baptist Church was one of the first
12 Black churches in Chicago to have a live radio broadcast; in
13 1957, the church relocated to 740 East 77th Street, and the
14 name was changed to the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church;
15 and
 
16     WHEREAS, In October of 2008, the church moved into a $12
17 million sanctuary located at 754 E. 77th, on the corner of 77th
18 Street & Cottage Grove Avenue, enabling the church to better
19 serve the community; and
 
20     WHEREAS, The church has the unique distinction of being
21 pastored by a Reverend Thurston for all 75 years of its

 

 

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1 existence; Reverend Elijah Thurston was succeeded by his son,
2 the late Reverend John L. Thurston; Reverend Stephen J.
3 Thurston is the third generation of Thurstons to pastor the
4 church; his son, Reverend Stephen J. Thurston II, is the
5 current Co-Pastor; therefore, be it
 
6     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8 congratulate Pastor Thurston on his anniversary and the New
9 Covenant Missionary Baptist Church members on the anniversary
10 of the church; and be it further
 
11     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
12 presented to Reverend Stephen Thurston and the congregation of
13 New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church Worship Center as
14 symbols of our respect and esteem.