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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REVEREND LEWIS GUNTER, SENIOR PASTOR AT GUNTER'S CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER FORTY-SIX YEARS OF FAITHFUL MINISTRY AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is pleased to learn that Reverend Lewis Gunter will be feted at a celebration in his honor on April 22, 2022, as he begins a well-deserved retirement after more than four and a half decades as a minister of the Gospel, the last years of which have been as the highly-regarded senior pastor at Gunter's Chapel Baptist Church in Columbia; and
Whereas, a native of Lexington County, Lewis Gunter is the son of the late Cellus and Beulah Gunter, the youngest of their three children. He obtained his early Christian growth in Hall Hill Baptist Church in Pelion; and
Whereas, he graduated from Schofield High School in Aiken and earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Benedict College; and
Whereas, in the patriotic tradition of the sons of the Palmetto State, Pastor Gunter served his country in the United States Navy for four years, and he retired from the United States Postal Service; and
Whereas, devoted to his community, he served as an elected Soil and Water District commissioner for Richland County for six years, as the minority advisor for the Department of Agriculture for Calhoun and Richland counties, and as the state chaplain for the South Carolina Soil and Water Conservation, as well as a counselor and volunteer for various services; and
Whereas, Reverend Gunter has pastored several churches in Richland County: Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Gadsden where he made his recording "Hear Ye the Word of the Lord," Gill Creek Baptist Church in Columbia, and Jerusalem Baptist Church in Hopkins; and
Whereas, in 1976, he founded Gunter's Chapel Baptist Church Holy Ghost Station which was organized with twenty-two charter members, and the services were held at Tot Town Academy on Columbia College Drive through the generosity of the owners, Dr. and Mrs. H. C. Morgan. On Sunday, October 24, 1976, he preached his first sermon entitled "The Master Builder"; and
Whereas, in less than six months, the congregation was able to purchase some land on Middleton Street for a church site and a bus for the church to use; and
Whereas, through God's abundant blessings, on May 10, 1992, Gunter's Chapel had its ground breaking and dedication ceremony to start building the new Gunter's Chapel Baptist Church, and the first service was held May 30, 1993. Today the church continues to thrive; and
Whereas, together with his beloved wife, the late First Lady Lue E. Pearson Gunter, he raised a fine son, who has blessed Reverend Gunter with the affection of three loving grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and
Whereas, grateful for his many years of outstanding ministry in the Belvedere community, the Palmetto State, and beyond, the South Carolina Senate takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to Lewis Gunter as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Reverend Lewis Gunter, Senior Pastor at Gunter's Chapel Baptist Church, upon the occasion of his retirement after forty-six years of faithful ministry and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Lewis Gunter.
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