H 5185

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 5185
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A house RESOLUTION
TO CELEBRATE THE
JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MACEDONIA
MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH AND TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR THE CONGREGATION FOR
THE CHURCH'S YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE DARLINGTON COMMUNITY.
Whereas, the members of
the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that the Macedonia
Missionary Baptist Church celebrated its one hundred and sixtieth anniversary
on February 11, 2026; and
Whereas, Macedonia
Baptist Church was established on February 11, 1866, under the dynamic leadership
of Reverend I.P. Brockenton, an ex-slave from Lee County, assisted by Dr.
Charles Henry Corey, a white Northern Baptist Missionary and Reverend James
Hamilton, a Black pastor from Philadelphia, who together procured thirteen
charter members from the First Baptist Church in Darlington to withdraw their
membership to form a new congregation; and
Whereas, the new church
started by meeting beneath brush arbors and in homes before a permanent structure
could be built. In December of 1866, Reverend Brockenton, along with the
trustees, purchased land and an old house for the sum of three hundred dollars,
and a house of worship was constructed on a portion of the property, which
would serve as the church for nearly 70 years. The church's present site was
acquired in 1922, and a new house of worship was first occupied on it in 1935;
and
Whereas, in addition to
Reverend Brockenton, who served Macedonia for 42 years (1866-1908), the
following pastors have helped shepherd the congregation into the third decade
of the twenty-first century: Reverend P.A. Callaham (1908-1916), Dr. James E. Kirkland
(1916-1920), Dr. Charles DuBois Hubert (1920-1925), Dr. H.W. Long (1927-1945), Reverend
Dr. C.L. Bowens (1945-1990), Reverend Donald L. Hughes (1990-2008), and
Reverend Dr. Cecil L. Bromell (2009-2022). Reverend Omar Hilton currently
serves as the church's associate pastor and is supported by two associates, Reverend
Wesley Blathers and Minister Diane Hall; and
Whereas, among many
milestones of the church's history, the significant physical and other
improvements during Rev. Bowens' tenure are notable, which included the
completion and decoration of the edifice, central heating installation, the
completion of dining and church school spaces, the creation of the nursery and
video ministry, the installation of elevators, a sanctuary remodel, and the
provision of musical instruments and restroom facilities, all of which were a
catalyst for positive change in Macedonia. Also, under Rev. Hughes' leadership,
the church renewed its focus on education and child well-being in numerous
ways, including the establishment of Macedonia Life Skills 501(c)(3) to enable
Macedonia to qualify for various grants to help better serve the youth and the
disadvantaged within the church and community, the offering of Bible studies
and a Christian education ministry, the development of mentoring programs, an emergency
food pantry, USDA monthly food distributions for the community, a summer feeding
and enrichment program for community children, and a Saturday morning tutoring
program for public school children; and
Whereas, the members of
the House of Representatives commend Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, in
Darlington, for over a century and a half of ministry in and service to the
community and extend their warmest congratulations on the occasion of the
church's historic anniversary. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the
South Carolina House of Representatives,
by this resolution, celebrate the joyous occasion of the one hundred sixtieth
anniversary of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and congratulate and
honor the congregation for the church's years of dedicated service to the
Darlington community.
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This web page was last updated on February 17, 2026 at 12:56 PM