[ Search ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
91_HR0895
LRB9114462KBkb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor milestones in the lives
4 of citizens of the State of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, Reverend John H. Rice is celebrating thirty
6 years of service to St. Bethel Baptist Church in Chicago
7 Heights; and
8 WHEREAS, John Rice was born in Starksville, Mississippi
9 on May 14, 1936; he moved to Chicago Heights at the age of
10 four; he attended Franklin Elementary School, Washington
11 Junior High School, and Bloom High School; he graduated from
12 Moody Bible Institute; he has an Associate of Arts degree
13 from Prairie State College, a Bachelors degree in
14 Communication Science from Governors State University, and is
15 currently working on his Masters degree in Communication
16 Science; and
17 WHEREAS, In 1970 Reverend Rice became the pastor of his
18 boyhood church, St. Bethel Baptist; under the leadership of
19 Reverend Rice the Men's Brotherhood, Children's Church,
20 Single's Ministry, Marriage Ministry, New Members Class,
21 Early Morning Service, and other programs have found their
22 beginnings; he has started food feeding programs, clothing
23 drives, Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas dinners, and
24 Christmas toys for needy families; and
25 WHEREAS, Under Reverend Rice the Bethel Community
26 Facility was completed; the Bethel Community Facility
27 provides welfare to work programs, after school programs,
28 summer day camp, emergency food and shelter, a medical
29 clinic, pharmacy, GED classes, computer training, day care,
30 and a boutique; and
31 WHEREAS, Reverend Rice has been honored for his hard work
-2- LRB9114462KBkb
1 and dedication to his community and church, including a
2 proclamation from the City of Chicago Heights declaring the
3 fourth Sunday in June as "Pastor John H. Rice Day"; he has
4 received the Dr. Charles Gavin Top Brass Award, the
5 Humanitarian Award for Distinguished Community Service, the
6 Service Award for the Building of Bethel Facility, and the
7 Illinois Distinguished Alumnus Award nomination; he also
8 received a letter of congratulations from President Bill
9 Clinton; and
10 WHEREAS, Reverend Rice has been married to the former
11 Movita Tate for forty years; they have one son, Reverend John
12 Rice, Jr., and three daughters, Sharlolanda, Kyla, and
13 Kandace; four grandchildren, Andrea, Steven, D'Yonna, and
14 Netnya; one daughter-in-law and two sons-in-law; and
15 WHEREAS, Reverend Rice continues to work for the church
16 and the City of Chicago Heights, with the building of Bethel
17 Annex, new homes, and an expected new worship area;
18 therefore, be it
19 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21 we congratulate Reverend John Rice on his anniversary of
22 thirty years of ministry; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
24 presented to Reverend John Rice.