HJ377: Commending Bethany Baptist Church on the occasion of its 240th anniversary.

?

?

WHEREAS, Bethany Baptist Church, the oldest church in the Fredericksburg Baptist Association, celebrates its 240th anniversary of service to the Lord and the community of Fredericksburg in 2010; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1770, Bethany Baptist Church began as Guiney?s Bridge Church under the leadership of Elder Nathaniel Holloway; the congregation met in a small frame building in a grove of oaks near the present-day location of the church; and

WHEREAS, despite persecution of its leaders in its early years, Guiney?s Bridge Church grew to 45 members by 1791 and under the leadership of John Waller, the Church was admitted to the Goshen Association of Churches; and

WHEREAS, by 1818 the congregation was known as Bethany Baptist Church and by 1825 a larger frame building was constructed to accommodate the growing membership; and

WHEREAS, misfortune struck in 1842 when Bethany Baptist Church was destroyed by fire; however, the faithful congregation quickly rebuilt on the same site in brick and that building serves as the nucleus of the present-day church; and

WHEREAS, during the latter half of the 19th century, Bethany Baptist Church?s membership increased to 714 members and an active female missionary society developed; and

WHEREAS, by 1925 Bethany Baptist Church was one of the 10 largest churches in the Goshen Association of Churches and had its first full-time minister, the Reverend W.L. Witt; in 1929 the Church expanded its facilities, which accommodated the Church for almost 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Bethany Baptist Church leaders made the decision in 1968 to construct an educational building and baptistery for the growing congregation and in 1970, the Church was accepted into the Fredericksburg Baptist Association; and

WHEREAS, in the 1980s and 1990s, Bethany Baptist Church expanded its music ministry, focused on youth outreach, and revived its bus/van ministry; and

WHEREAS, from its founding days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Bethany Baptist Church and its faithful congregation have grown in faith and numbers and remained steadfast in their service to the Lord and the community; and

WHEREAS, Bethany Baptist Church has been served throughout its 240-year history by immensely dedicated and able pastors, who have provided visionary leadership, devout worship, meaningful Christian education, and enthusiastic ministry and community missions; and

WHEREAS, throughout its long history, Bethany Baptist Church has provided its devoted congregation, its neighbors, and the community a place to worship, to help others, and to grow in faith and service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Bethany Baptist Church on the occasion of its 240th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bethany Baptist Church as an expression of the General Assembly?s congratulations and best wishes for future success in its ministries.

WHEREAS, Bethany Baptist Church, the oldest church in the Fredericksburg Baptist Association, celebrates its 240th anniversary of service to the Lord and the community of Fredericksburg in 2010; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1770, Bethany Baptist Church began as Guiney?s Bridge Church under the leadership of Elder Nathaniel Holloway; the congregation met in a small frame building in a grove of oaks near the present-day location of the church; and

WHEREAS, despite persecution of its leaders in its early years, Guiney?s Bridge Church grew to 45 members by 1791 and under the leadership of John Waller, the Church was admitted to the Goshen Association of Churches; and

WHEREAS, by 1818 the congregation was known as Bethany Baptist Church and by 1825 a larger frame building was constructed to accommodate the growing membership; and

WHEREAS, misfortune struck in 1842 when Bethany Baptist Church was destroyed by fire; however, the faithful congregation quickly rebuilt on the same site in brick and that building serves as the nucleus of the present-day church; and

WHEREAS, during the latter half of the 19th century, Bethany Baptist Church?s membership increased to 714 members and an active female missionary society developed; and

WHEREAS, by 1925 Bethany Baptist Church was one of the 10 largest churches in the Goshen Association of Churches and had its first full-time minister, the Reverend W.L. Witt; in 1929, the Church expanded its facilities, which accommodated the Church for almost 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Bethany Baptist Church leaders made the decision in 1968 to construct an educational building and baptistery for the growing congregation and in 1970, the Church was accepted into the Fredericksburg Baptist Association; and

WHEREAS, in the 1980s and 1990s, Bethany Baptist Church expanded its music ministry, focused on youth outreach, and revived its bus/van ministry; and

WHEREAS, from its founding days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Bethany Baptist Church and its faithful congregation have grown in faith and numbers and remained steadfast in their service to the Lord and the community; and

WHEREAS, Bethany Baptist Church has been served throughout its 240-year history by immensely dedicated and able pastors, who have provided visionary leadership, devout worship, meaningful Christian education, and enthusiastic ministry and community missions; and

WHEREAS, throughout its long history, Bethany Baptist Church has provided its devoted congregation, its neighbors, and the community a place to worship, to help others, and to grow in faith and service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Bethany Baptist Church on the occasion of its 240th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bethany Baptist Church as an expression of the General Assembly?s congratulations and best wishes for future success in its ministries.