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2025-2026 Bill 1091: Bethlehem Baptist Church-College Place 130th anniversary - South Carolina Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 1091
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Devine
Document Path: LC-0370HA-KAR26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on April 1, 2026
Adopted by the Senate on April 1, 2026
Summary: Bethlehem Baptist Church-College Place 130th anniversary
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date
Body
Action Description with journal page number
4/1/2026
Senate
Introduced and adopted (
Senate Journal-page 10
)
View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/01/2026
A
senate
RESOLUTION
to congratulate the congregation of Bethlehem
Baptist Church, College Place upon the celebration of its one hundred thirtieth
anniversary of ministry and service in its community.
W
hereas, Bethlehem
Baptist Church, College Place was founded in 1896 by descendants of enslaved
people who gathered under a brush arbor to worship and proclaim the Gospel
message, standing on the faithful truth of Romans 6:23: "The wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is eternal life"; and
W
hereas, under the
leadership of Reverend Elijah Johnson, the early congregation showed remarkable
perseverance, worshiping until 1908, when land was purchased for fifty dollars
from Mr. Henry Wiley, establishing the church on sacred ground and marking the
beginning of its first fixed structure; and
W
hereas, the rich
heritage of Bethlehem is preserved in the historic cemetery located behind the
church, where generations of faithful members rest, including early saints such
as Sister Mary Bell Gadson and Deacon W. M. Corbett, whose birth dates reflect
the era of slavery and whose lives stand as a testimony to endurance, faith,
and devotion; and
W
hereas, the early
leadership of the church included dedicated servants such as Deacon Tony
Anderson, chairman of the deacon board, along with Deacons Eff Anderson, Boyd
Ruff, Perry, Henry Bell, Shack Gadson, and Dose Gadson, and devoted mother
leaders: Sisters Fannie Anderson, Ida Gadson, Becky Wiley, Nancy Woodard, and
Jane Bell, who nurtured the church's spiritual life; and
W
hereas, Bethlehem
Baptist Church has been faithfully shepherded by devoted pastors beginning with
Reverend Elijah Johnson from 1908 to 1918, followed by Reverends Harry Corbitt,
Eddie Gallman, Ben Kelly, and T. H. Hughes, each contributing to the spiritual
growth and stability of the church; and
W
hereas, in 1942,
tragedy struck when the church building was destroyed by fire, yet the faith of
the congregation remained steadfast. Through determination and unity the church
was rebuilt beginning in 1943 under Reverend Hughes and completed during the
leadership of Reverend Hightower. Bethlehem continued its journey of faith
through the leadership of Reverends Rose, Clarence Harrell, Moses Thomas, M. J.
Odom, L. Z. Chavis, and Edward Johnson, during whose tenure plans for an educational
building were realized and completed in 1969; and
W
hereas, a
transformative era began in May 1969, with the pastoral leadership of Reverend
C. A. Faulk, whose thirty-one years of faithful service saw remarkable
spiritual growth. Physical growth was also seen in the construction of the
present sanctuary, installation of a new baptismal pool, acquisition of
additional properties, purchase of a church bus, and development of new
ministries and mission circles; and
W
hereas, under Reverend
Faulk's leadership, many sons of the church answered the call to ministry:
Reverends Augustus Rodgers, Bobby Ray Rice, Samuel P. Blanks, Eugene Gilbert,
Moses Telford, Timothy Brown, Kenneth Spry, and Henry Spann Jr. After Reverend
Faulk's death in 2000, the church continued strong in faith under the guidance
of Dr. M. C. Fennell and Reverend Henry Spann Jr.; and
W
hereas, in 2002, God
blessed Bethlehem Baptist Church with the leadership of Reverend Dr. Anthony A.
McCallum, whose pastoral ministry has emphasized discipleship, compassion, and
holistic ministry and has established numerous ministries: for the hearing
impaired, couples, veterans, mental health awareness, youth development,
prayer, and Christian education; and
W
hereas, through one
hundred thirty years of worship, service, and ministry, Bethlehem Baptist
Church has stood as a beacon of faith, hope, and resilience in the community,
faithfully proclaiming the Gospel and serving generations of believers. Now, therefore,
B
e it resolved by the
Senate
:
T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
Senate
, by this resolution,
congratulate the congregation of Bethlehem Baptist Church, College Place upon
the celebration of its one hundred thirtieth anniversary of ministry and
service in its community.
B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. Anthony A. McCallum.
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