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TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND BETHANY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF MCCORMICK COUNTY AND TO CONGRATULATE PASTOR KEITH F. GORDON AND THE CONGREGATION UPON THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH'S MEANINGFUL SPIRITUAL SERVICE AND MINISTRY IN THE MCCORMICK COMMUNITY.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in McCormick will commemorate its one hundred thirty-fourth anniversary at a celebratory service on Sunday, May 15, 2016; and
Whereas, when a few believers in Christ from McCormick joined together with a desire to serve God, they first met under a brush arbor for worship until Cyrus McCormick deeded them a plot of land in 1882 for fifty dollars; and
Whereas, Reverend J. F. Marshall served the nascent congregation as pastor for fifty-four years, and under his leadership, their numbers increased, and Bethany Missionary Baptist Church was built; and
Whereas, when the Lord called Reverend Marshall home, the small and bereft congregation elected Reverend C. C. Garrett to minister, and he remained at Bethany eight years; and
Whereas, many ministers followed: Reverend W. E. Laws in 1944, Reverend W. L. Mines in 1954, Reverend J. S. Harrison in 1958, and Reverend S. L. McCain in 1960; and
Whereas, under the leadership of Reverend McCain, the church was able to establish worship services every Sunday, undertake a total renovation of the church, and inaugurate a choir for the younger children to give them an active role in the worship; and
Whereas, during this time, Reverend M. S. Adams became the church's assistant pastor, and after the passing of Reverend McCain in 1976, Reverend Adams was called as the pastor in 1977. Reverend R. C. Holloway served with him as the associate minister, and Reverend Robert J. Haskell, a member of Bethany Missionary Baptist, served as the church's assistant pastor; and
Whereas, after the death of Reverend Adams in 1992, the church called Reverend Haskell to be the pastor the same year, and under his direction, renovations were made on the sanctuary, the Grant Social Hall/Educational Building was erected and dedicated, and much spiritual progress occurred in the congregation; and
Whereas, in 2014, Minister Keith F. Gordon was called to serve as the pastor of Bethany. He was ordained later that year and installed as pastor on October 23, 2014; and
Whereas, through its one hundred thirty-four years, Bethany Missionary Baptist has grown in number and has ordained many deacons and licensed and ordained numerous ministers. Many of its devoted members have also served the denomination's Union and Association in various capacities; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the sustained ministry of Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, and the members celebrate with the pastor and the congregation on reaching this extraordinary milestone. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend Bethany Missionary Baptist Church of McCormick County and congratulate Pastor Keith F. Gordon and the congregation upon the one hundred thirty-fourth anniversary of the church's meaningful spiritual service and ministry in the McCormick community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Keith F. Gordon.
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