HR 445: Fellowship Bible Baptist Church; occasion of its 45th anniversary; recognize

House Resolution 445

By: Representatives Jones of the 143rd, Ballard of the 147th, Dickey of the 134th, and Blackmon of the 146th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending Fellowship Bible Baptist Church on the occasion of its 45th anniversary; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, 45 years ago on Sunday, February 10, 1980, in Buzzell Village, Building 10, in Warner Robins, Georgia, a worship service was held and led by Reverend Willie L. Reid Sr.; and

WHEREAS, in 1981, the congregation of 25 members purchased 10 acres of land on Dunbar Road in Warner Robins, Georgia, and on May 1, 1983, that small congregation, then known as Fellowship Bible Baptist Church, purchased 48 acres of land and moved into their new sanctuary, where in 1984 they added an educational wing; and

WHEREAS, in March 1998, Fellowship purchased 48 additional acres of land, and in 2003, ground was broken for a new Fellowship Hall that was completed in 2004, now known as the Willie L. Reid Multi-purpose Building; and

WHEREAS, as the church's footprint increased, a substantial number of new members were added to the Church; the people progressed as they fed on the mantra of faith Pastor Reid often declared: "If you can see it, that ain't it"; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, Pastor Reid cast the vision for a new sanctuary, and on January 16, 2011, Fellowship marched into the "Faith Dome"; and

WHEREAS, after many years of faithful service, God called the church's founding pastor to heavenly rest on May 4, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Reid did not stand alone; he was supported by "His Loving Wife," Sister Gloria H. Reid, and their three loving children; and

WHEREAS, in February 2015, Pastor Tolan Morgan was called to pastor Fellowship Bible Baptist Church; under his leadership, the SHIP has grown not only numerically but also spiritually. The various ministries at the SHIP regularly and successfully reach out beyond the church walls to meet the needs of those in the communities; and

WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fellowship continued to lead the way in impacting its community with mass food distribution, vaccination services, health screenings, and real-time worldwide virtual worship services; and

WHEREAS, over the past 10 years, Fellowship Bible Baptist Church has experienced rapid, consistent growth to the current membership of approximately 3,500 active members, and ministries are being revised, facility upgrades are in progress, training is being expanded for believers and workers, and outreach efforts continue to meet the needs of all people; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Pastor Morgan, Fellowship Bible Baptist Church furthers its impact on the lives of all people inside and outside of the church.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize the rich history of Fellowship Bible Baptist Church, commend its 45 years of dedicated service to the Lord and community, and extend their warmest best wishes for its continued growth and success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Fellowship Bible Baptist Church.