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92_HR0711
LRB9216358BHbh
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are proud to recognize significant events in
4 the lives of the citizens of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, Reverend Gerald M. Dew of the Antioch Missionary
6 Baptist Church in Chicago celebrates the first anniversary of
7 his service on March 11, 2002; and
8 WHEREAS, Reverend Dew was born on December 18, 1959, in
9 Chicago, Illinois; following primary training in Chicago, he
10 completed his secondary education at Muncie Northside High
11 School in Muncie, Indiana; and
12 WHEREAS, Reverend Dew continued his academic pursuits at
13 Texas Southern University in Houston, graduating with a
14 Bachelor of Arts Degree; he went on to earn a Master of Arts
15 Degree in Theology from Houston's Graduate School of
16 Theology; Reverend Dew entered the Postgraduate Program at
17 the University of St. Thomas in Houston in the pursuit of a
18 Doctor of Philosophy degree in Religion; and
19 WHEREAS, In February of 1982, Reverend Dew became a
20 member and associate minister at Greater Zion Missionary
21 Baptist Church in Houston; he was called as its Pastor in
22 1984, shortly after the passing of Dr. M.L. Price; and
23 WHEREAS, Under Reverend Dew's capable leadership and
24 direction, several initiatives were undertaken at Greater
25 Zion; he organized Re-Ward Third Ward, Inc., a non-profit
26 Community Development Corporation; he established a Church
27 Food Pantry, a Church Tape Ministry, the New Members
28 Orientation Program and Follow-up Procedures; he established
29 a Deacon Family Ministry Plan, along with procedures for
30 promoting greater utilization of the Ministerial Staff, as
31 well as the initiation of an annual "Home Visitation
-2- LRB9216358BHbh
1 Ministry"; and
2 WHEREAS, With Reverend Dew's help, Greater Zion completed
3 remodeling and began the initial phase of expanding the M.L.
4 Price Educational Building; he led over 300 persons to Christ
5 through personal evangelism and increased membership by 500
6 persons; and
7 WHEREAS, Reverend Dew continues to be actively involved
8 in local, national, and world matters which have enhanced his
9 effectiveness as a Spiritual Leader; and
10 WHEREAS, Reverend Dew is past Board Chairman of the Texas
11 Center for Biblical Studies, former Vice Moderator of
12 Operations of the Lincoln District Missionary Baptist
13 Association of Texas, and currently serves as Administrative
14 Assistant/Curriculum Coordinator of Africa Crusade
15 Ministries, Inc., and Dean of Ministers' Conference of the
16 National Missionary Baptist Convention of America; and
17 WHEREAS, Reverend Dew and his lovely wife, Mrs. Marva
18 Dew, have two teen-age children, Samuel, 15, and Eboni, 13;
19 therefore, be it
20 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22 we congratulate Reverend Gerald M. Dew on his first
23 anniversary as Pastor of the Antioch Missionary Baptist
24 Church in Chicago; and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent
26 to Reverend Gerald M. Dew as an expression of our esteem.