Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:5215 Primary Sponsor:Davenport Type of Legislation:CR Subject:First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19940517 Computer Document Number:JIC/6091HTC.94 Introduced Date:19940517 Last History Body:House Last History Date:19940517 Last History Type:Received from Senate Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Davenport Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved ____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________ 5215 House 19940517 Received from Senate 5215 Senate 19940517 Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence 5215 House 19940517 Introduced, adopted, sent to SenateView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
EXTENDING CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE ONE HUNDRED TEN YEAR OLD FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NORTH SPARTANBURG.
Whereas, on October 16, 1884, thirty-nine men and women became the charter members of the New Pisgah Baptist Church in the Pisgah Community of Spartanburg County; and
Whereas, in 1885, the New Pisgah Baptist Church was accepted into the Spartanburg Association with a membership of forty-three; and
Whereas, in 1913, a new house of worship, consisting of an auditorium and five Sunday school rooms, was dedicated; and
Whereas, in 1954, this frame church house was replaced by a brick sanctuary and a spacious educational building; and
Whereas, by 1976-77, the church began an era of unprecedented growth and was listed in the top one percent of fast-growing churches in the Southern Baptist Convention; and
Whereas, in 1980, the church began a television ministry, "The Eleventh Hour"; and
Whereas, on January 1, 1985, the present pastor, Rev. Michael Hamlet, became associated with the church and in 1986, the church became the First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg, and in 1989, opened the largest Southern Baptist sanctuary in South Carolina at that time; and
Whereas, New Pisgah Baptist Church became First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg in 1986; and
Whereas, First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg has led the state in baptisms for the last six years, becoming nationally recognized; and
Whereas, First Baptist presented the Living Christmas Tree for the past six years to over twelve thousand people a year and its Passion Play has been presented to thousands of people each year; and
Whereas, First Baptist has a television ministry reaching upstate South Carolina, parts of North Carolina, and Georgia and in 1991 was featured on "Great Churches of America"; and
Whereas, First Baptist has been used as a model for "Empowering Kingdom Growth", a strategic plan for church growth in South Carolina; and
Whereas, in 1992, First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg was the fastest growing church in the State with an average attendance at Sunday worship services of 1,675; and
Whereas, in 1990, they earned a national rating; and
Whereas, it is fitting and proper that the General Assembly pause in its deliberations to note the accomplishments of so influential a church as First Baptist. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly extend congratulations and best wishes to the members of the one hundred ten year old First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Rev. Michael Hamlet, Pastor of First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg.