HR 237

Commending Mount Olive Baptist Church.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2026
WHEREAS, for more than two centuries, Mount Olive Baptist Church in Stafford County has provided its congregation with inspiring spiritual guidance, uplifting occasions for worship and fellowship, and meaningful opportunities for charitable outreach; and
WHEREAS, Mount Olive Baptist Church was founded on May 16, 1818, near Roseville in Stafford County by the Reverend Horace Crutcher and five other charter members; and
WHEREAS, Mount Olive Baptist Church was notably the first African American church in Stafford County, and its first place of worship was a shelter made of slab wood; and
WHEREAS, from these humble beginnings, the congregation at Mount Olive Baptist Church steadily grew, and new buildings were periodically constructed to accommodate the church's expanding membership and ministries; and
WHEREAS, since the Reverend Horace Crutcher, Mount Olive Baptist Church has been led by a distinguished line of faith leaders, including its current pastor, the Reverend Dr. Custis E. Edmonds, Jr., who devoted themselves to ensuring the longevity and well-being of the church and its congregation; and
WHEREAS, Mount Olive Baptist Church advances its mission through membership in a number of faith associations, including the American Baptist Churches of the South, the Northern Virginia Baptist Association, and the Mattaponi Baptist Association of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Mount Olive Baptist Church has made an impact in Stafford County through its involvement with several local charitable endeavors and its support of the local fire department and rescue squad and the Children's Home of Virginia Baptist; and
WHEREAS, a beacon of hope, strength, and faith in the community for more than 200 years, Mount Olive Baptist Church has helped make Stafford County a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Mount Olive Baptist Church hereby be commended for its legacy of service on behalf of its congregation and the community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mount Olive Baptist Church as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the church's history and its contributions to Stafford County and the Commonwealth.