| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The members of Antioch Baptist Church in Freestone |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | County are celebrating the 150th anniversary of their church's |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | founding in 2021; and |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The congregation was established as Antioch Baptist |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | Church of Christ in 1871 under its first pastor, the Reverend John |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | Webb, who is buried on the grounds; in the early decades, a circuit |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | preacher held services once a month, and in 1953, regular weekly |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | services began; and |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, The church's original sanctuary was a plain, |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | box-like structure heated by wood-burning stoves, and it also |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | served as a school until a proper schoolhouse was built nearby; the |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | grounds featured willow brush arbors that were eventually replaced |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | with a pavilion that was used for revival meetings and outdoor |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | services; over the years, the rebuilding and renovation of the |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | church has been financed by such community efforts as planting and |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | harvesting cotton, as well as selling chickens, eggs, quilts, and |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | boxed dinners; and |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Since its organization, Antioch Baptist Church has |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | benefited from the dedicated efforts of a number of outstanding |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | clergy, including Pastor Cody Craig, who leads the congregation |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | today; united by their shared faith and strong traditions, the |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | members of this notable house of worship have established a variety |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | of commendable programs that foster fellowship and offer help to |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | those in need; and |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Countless residents of Fairfield and Freestone |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | County have looked to Antioch Baptist Church for spiritual guidance |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | through the years, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring the |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | church at this special time in its rich history; now, therefore, be |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | it |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of Antioch |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | Baptist Church and extend to the congregation sincere best wishes |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | for the future; and, be it further |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | House of Representatives. |
|---|