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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, DARLINGTON, ITS PASTOR DR. KENNETH SANDIFER, AND FAITHFUL CONGREGATION ON THE OCCASION OF THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH ON APRIL 23, 2006.
Whereas, the First Baptist Church, Darlington, will celebrate its 175th anniversary April 23, 2006; and
Whereas, in 1831 nine charter members founded the Darlington Baptist Church of Christ, after W. Q. Beattie of Mechanicsville began conducting services two Sundays each month at the courthouse; and
Whereas, the following year, the church joined the Welsh Neck Association, and in 1912 the church was renamed the First Baptist Church when the current sanctuary, the church's third building, was dedicated; and
Whereas, the church's first sanctuary was built in 1830, just prior to the church's constitution, and its second building was finished in 1859. Through the years, two educational buildings, a youth activities facility, and a fellowship hall have been added; and
Whereas, currently under the able leadership of Dr. Kenneth Sandifer, First Baptist has a loyal congregation of five hundred seventy-five members who have been faithful stewards of the church and the community; and
Whereas, over the years, the mission oriented congregation has had twenty-one pastors and has licensed or ordained twenty-one members to the ministry and has sent more than twenty individuals or groups to the mission field; and
Whereas, the church has helped to spread God's word by recognizing the need for outreach missions, and in 1959, First Baptist founded a mission to serve the Mont Clare Community, and last year, First Baptist sponsored a newly established church at Bethea Baptist Retirement Community; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to have the opportunity to recognize such a prominent institution as First Baptist Church, which has been a beacon of faith and a pillar of strength and spiritual leadership in the Darlington Community. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor the First Baptist Church, Darlington, its pastor Dr. Kenneth Sandifer and faithful congregation on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the church on April 23, 2006.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Dr. Kenneth Sandifer, and the Congregation of First Baptist, Darlington.
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