H 5588

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 5588
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A house RESOLUTION
to recognize and congratulate the Congregation of
Hopewell Baptist Church, the church staff, and Reverend Richard Addison upon
the church's one hundred fiftieth anniversary.
Whereas, Hopewell
Baptist Church grew out of High Hills Baptist Church in 1876 with Reverend J.
Capers as the founder and first pastor. The early worship services were held
under a brush arbor. Under Reverend Capers' leadership the congregation sought
to purchase land on which to build a church, but Robert Brownfield donated the
land to the church. The Grant family of Grant Hill Baptist Church donated
material for the church's foundation, and members of Hopewell planted an extra
acre of cotton and used the money from the sale of the cotton to finish
building the church; and
Whereas, the pastors who
followed Reverend Capers include Reverend Theodore Diggs for forty-five years, Reverend
Miles, Reverend Ross, Reverend Holmes for two years, Reverend H. D. Dupree for
seven years, Reverend H. W. White for four years, Reverend M. M. Battie for sixteen
years, Reverend L. W. Walker Sr. for fifty years, Reverend C. Hilton Jr. for
two years, and Reverend Richard Addison from 2007 to the present; and
Whereas, during the
fifty-year ministry of Reverend Walker, a new sanctuary for Hopewell Baptist
Church was built in 1965. A committee purchased the land for the new church
from Mr. George Benehaley, and the church was paid for within seven years. An educational
and fellowship hall was added in 1993 and was named Reverend Dr. L. W. Walker
Sr. Educational and Fellowship Hall in 1999. The building was paid off in 2000,
the church's yard was paved in 1999, and the church completed renovation of the
sanctuary in 2002; and
Whereas, many
auxiliaries were organized in that half century: the Gospel Choir, Tiny Tots
Choir,  Youth Choir, Ladies Choir, Male Chorus, Pastor's Aid Club, Brotherhood,
L. W. Walker Adult Choir, Children's Choir, and Inspirational Choir. In 1995,
services began every Sunday with Reverend Charles Gadson as the assistant
pastor; and
Whereas, Reverend
Addison served as interim pastor in 2006 and became permanent pastor in 2007.
He established the Men's Bible Study, Women's Bible Study, Hopewell Baptist
Scholarship Ministry, and the Young People's Ministry to support spiritual
growth of the youth. The Mass Choir, Sanctuary Choir, and Praise Team Ministry
were added, the finance ministry's computer system was upgraded, and the Media
Ministry developed the church's website, Facebook page, and Zoom. In 2015,
Hopewell adopted an official church logo and in 2021 launched its YouTube
channel to broaden access to worship services; and
Whereas, a Praise Team
Ministry was established in 2020, and former singing groups were combined to
form the Sanctuary Choir. The Healthcare Ministry now includes more than ten
certified CPR participants, and the newly structured Women's Ministry has
participated in blanket drives for the homeless, a prison ministry, foreign
mission efforts, and providing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the sick
and shut-in; and
Whereas, facility and
landscaping enhancements were completed in 2025: an addition to the church's
vestibule, a women's restroom and lounge area, a men's restroom, a security
room, media room improvements, the creation of two new classrooms, resurfacing
of the parking lot, a new monument sign, and a brick mailbox. These were
dedicated during the church's 149th Anniversary; and
Whereas, in June 2025,
Hopewell launched the first Health and Community Resource Fair of the Women's
Ministry, held on May 3, 2025, as well as the Summer Enrichment Program to
provide academic support and spiritual development for youth in the church and
surrounding community. In 2026, the church implemented its Security Ministry,
equipping it with high-tech systems designed to enhance safety, security, and
overall church awareness and protection. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the
South Carolina House of Representatives,
by this resolution, recognize and congratulate the congregation of Hopewell
Baptist Church, the church staff, and Reverend Richard Addison upon the
church's one hundred fiftieth anniversary.
Be it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Richard Addison.
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This web page was last updated on April 28, 2026 at 12:39 PM