HR0026 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0026 LRB094 06123 CSA 36187 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Pastor C.L. Fairchild was born September 4, 1936, in Cotton Plant, Arkansas; he is married, has six children, and is the proud Pastor of Greater Faith Church-Baptist of Waukegan; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Fairchild was called to Greater Faith Church-Baptist in February 1979, where he provides spiritual guidance and support to members of the congregation; he has increased the church membership from less than 100 to over 1000 and has been instrumental and personally responsible for the purchase of three pieces of property, including the present church site; he also instituted the church tithing program, organized the Matron Board, whose services include visiting the sick and evangelical outreach services, and has aired radio broadcast services since 1980; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, he was given a vision to enlarge and build a new sanctuary; this edifice was completed in May 2002, with space for a multi-purpose building; the Greater Faith family is still celebrating this achievement; and

WHEREAS, He is known throughout the United States and abroad as a dynamic preacher, teacher, evangelist, singer, civil rights leader, humanitarian, and scholar, and has held numerous positions of importance throughout the Christian community, both locally and nationally; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Fairchild's musical abilities are phenomenal; he produced the first recording in the 116th-year history of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., which was nominated in 1998 for a Stella Award; under his tutelage, his local choir, fondly known as the "Voices", have not only excelled in the field of gospel music, they have reached a spiritual pinnacle that few have achieved in a lifetime of singing; and

WHEREAS, He has directed and taught music workshops and choir and voice theory across the United States; among his many other honors and awards, he won the coveted James Cleveland award in 2003; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Fairchild's theology education continues; he attended the Chicago Baptist Institute and received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Tennessee School of Religion in Memphis; his earlier education was completed in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, He is currently the public relations officer for the North Shore Baptist Ministers Alliance, where he previously held the offices of president and vice president; he is past president of the Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, Coalition for Better Government; he is a member of the board of directors for the McKinley Theological Seminary, the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc., and E.C. Morris Institute of Arkansas Baptist College; he is the chairman of the evangelistic Chicago Baptist Conference; he is the past superintendent of evangelism of the Baptist General State Convention, and the past secretary of the evangelism board, NBC, USA, Inc., and co-chairman of the Late Night Services, NBC, USA, Inc.; he is a life member of Operation Push, NAACP, and Urban League; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Pastor C.L. Fairchild for improving and enriching the lives of countless people in so many ways and thank him for his inspirational service to his church and to the community at large; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor C.L. Fairchild as an expression of our utmost appreciation and gratitude.