A house RESOLUTION

TO HONOR REVEREND SAMMY LEE WADE, PASTOR OF MT. NEBO BAPTIST CHURCH IN EASTOVER AND ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH IN HOPKINS, AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON TWENTY YEARS OF PASTORAL MINISTRY.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Reverend Sammy Lee Wade and his wife, Mary Ann Johnson Wade, will be celebrated for two decades of pastoral ministry at a dinner to be held in their honor on Saturday, November 12, 2022; and

Whereas, a native of Charleston, Sammy Wade is the youngest son of the late Herbert Wade and the late Leaseanna Alston Wade Simmons; and

Whereas, baptized at the Lovely Mountain Church in North Charleston at an early age, he was ordained in 1984 at the same church by the Charleston County Baptist Association; and

Whereas, Reverend Wade earned an associate's degree in liberal arts, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in biblical studies, and a Master of Divinity; and

Whereas, certified in clinical pastoral education, he taught world religion as an adjunct instructor at Benedict College, served as a part time chaplain at Dorn Veterans Medical Center and at the South Carolina Department of Corrections; and

Whereas, Reverend Wade taught at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice at the Reception and Evaluation School, and served with distinction in the United States Army for twenty-six years, receiving a direct commission as a United States Army Chaplain and meritorious service awards and an appointment as Assistant Inspector General of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and

Whereas, serving with his wife, Reverend Wade is codirector for the Mary Lee Howell Holiday Food Box Program which provides food for senior citizens, and he is the founder of the Gospel Hammer Project and the Lower Richland Veterans Formation. He has served on several community boards and received the South Carolina Silver Crest Award for Community Service; and

Whereas, Reverend Wade organized and started the International Seminary Extension in Lower Richland in 2003 to train ministers and Christian workers and was instrumental in negotiating Mt. Nebo Baptist Church and St. John Baptist Church as the first churches designated as certified "Safe Haven" sites in South Carolina; and

Whereas, he is the founder and CEO of Juveniles Upholding Morals & Principles of Society (J.U.M.P.S.), a nonprofit organization designed to meet the needs of the youth and those less fortunate. He is a cofounder of SERCO and Tri City Visionaries and coined the name Swamp Fest for a popular event held in Lower Richland; and

Whereas, as an entrepreneur and successful businessman in the area, Reverend Wade helps to network and transport veterans through issues dealing with veteran affairs; and

Whereas, a gifted preacher, revivalist, vocalist, and visionary, he served as the moderator of the Wateree Baptist Association Upper Division and now serves as pastor both of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church and of St. John Baptist Church and as chaplain for the Community Wellness Group which treats opioid addiction; and

Whereas, together with his beloved wife, the former Mary Ann Johnson of North Charleston, he reared three fine children: the late Kanika Aisha, Jabari Darweshi, and Kamilah Rehema. They have blessed him with three loving grandchildren: Jabari Darweshi Wade II, Jayion Christopher Wade, and Jelissa Samirah Wade; and

Whereas, it is altogether fitting that the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives should join in congratulating Pastor Wade for his steadfast ministry of twenty years. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor Reverend Sammy Lee Wade, pastor of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Eastover and St. John Baptist Church in Hopkins, and congratulate him upon twenty years of pastoral ministry.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Sammy Lee Wade and his wife, Mary Ann Johnson Wade.

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