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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE MEMBERS OF STANDING SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH IN GREENVILLE COUNTY AND THEIR PASTOR JIM BOUCHILLON AS THEY CELEBRATE THE BICENTENNIAL OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE TO THEIR GOD AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Standing Springs Baptist Church (SSBC) will celebrate its two hundredth anniversary on October 18, 2018; and
Whereas, Standing Springs Baptist had its origin as an outreach of Fork Shoals Church in 1818 and derived its name from a spring located behind what is now the church gym. The church was organized in September of 1818 and held its first service in the home of Diana and James Cox in October; and
Whereas, two centuries after its formation, the church maintains its initial purpose: propagate the Gospel in preaching and teaching; and
Whereas, with ten charter members of what was originally called Standing Springs Meeting House, Nathan Berry was named the moderator and was called as the congregation's first pastor, and the first building, a simple wooden structure, was erected in 1819; and
Whereas, in 1831, the church voted to establish another church on Raburn Creek at New Providence, which became Sandy Springs Baptist Church around 1834, about the same time Standing Springs decided to build a new sanctuary, which was dedicated in 1838; and
Whereas, the first mention of missions was a five-dollar donation in 1872 for the building of a church in Rome, Italy, and in 1881, an organ was tendered to the church for use in Sabbath school; and
Whereas, by 1900, SSBC helped to organize another church on Fairview Road, called Unity Baptist Church; and
Whereas, as the congregation continued to grow, properties were added to the original building. A baptismal pool was built in 1904 adjacent to the church property near the spring and was used until a baptistry was erected inside the church in 1952. In 1959, the sanctuary was completely remodeled, adding educational space; and
Whereas, a new sanctuary was dedicated in 1970, and by the end of 1972, twelve acres had been added to the existing property. In 1973, a gymnasium, Sunday school rooms, and a fellowship hall were added. Early in 1976, over nine and a half acres were added to the property, but before the year had ended, smoke damage from a fire affected the sanctuary and the Sunday school rooms. In 1980, a new wing was constructed to provide more Sunday school rooms and space for the new and bourgeoning Child Development Center; and
Whereas, the church's many ministries today include the children's club AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed); Connie Maxwell Children's Home; a child-development center; Gideons; Good News Clubs under Child Evangelism Fellowship; Piedmont Women's Center; and Trail Life USA, a discipleship program using outdoor adventure to mentor boys and develop godly leaders; and
Whereas, local and global missions of SSBC include outreaches of Girls in Action (GAs), Royal Ambassadors (RAs), Vacation Bible School, Women's Missionary Union (WMU), and mission trips; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates SSBC's long-standing ministry seeking to be the hands, the feet, and the heart of Christ to those in the community around and beyond them and within their fellowship: being God's feet in the world as they evangelize the lost; His hands in the world as they minister to needs in their community and people groups worldwide; and His heart in the world as they make disciples with passion for God and His Word and a deepening relationship with Him. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor the members of Standing Springs Baptist Church in Greenville County and their Pastor Jim Bouchillon as they celebrate the bicentennial of congregational service to their God and their community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Jim Bouchillon.
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