CELEBRATNG THE ORIGINAL PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH SESQUICENTENNIAL
WHEREAS, The Original Providence Baptist Church is celebrating their sesquicentennial jubilee; and
WHEREAS, The Original Providence Church began in 1863 as the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of a few slaves who were recently emancipated by a proclamation from President Abraham Lincoln. In their desire for independence and freedom, many had fled to Chicago by way of the Underground Railroad. A few had purchased their freedom in previous years, but the majority of them had come north to this city to escape slavery; and
WHEREAS, The church members chose the name "Providence" because the term suggested divine guidance. God's assistance had been so pronounced in all their efforts that they lived by the motto adopted from the biblical quotation in Ephesians 3:20, "Making the Impossible Happen Through Faith"; and
WHEREAS, Within a few years, the founders were joined by other faithful souls who united with them to form a congregation of almost three hundred able to raise enough money to purchase a lot and build their first church. They had a "mind to work" and the fruits of their labors became evident; and
WHEREAS, The congregation's most recent pastor. Rev. Cleophus J. Lee, took leadership on October 18, 2009 in the Original Providence Baptist Church's third location that has served its congregants since 1958; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Robert W. Fioretti, Alderman of the 2nd Ward, has apprised this august body of the noteworthy and significant milestone of this praiseworthy and venerable religious bedrock of the community; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City of Chicago City Council, assembled this 10th Day of April, 2013 A.D., do hereby laud the sesquicentennial celebration of the Original Providence Baptist Church and extend our very best wishes for the continuing success of its important spiritual mission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable ...
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