2019-2020 Bill 4557: Red Hill Baptist Church - South Carolina
Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020
H. 4557
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Brawley, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Atkinson,
Bailey, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein,
Blackwell, Bradley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Calhoon, Caskey, Chellis,
Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, CobbHunter, Cogswell, Collins,
B. Cox, W. Cox, Crawford, Daning, Davis, Dillard,
Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry,
Funderburk, Gagnon, Garvin, Gilliam, Gilliard, Govan, Hardee, Hart,
Hayes, HendersonMyers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott,
Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hyde, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones,
Jordan, Kimmons, King, Kirby, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack,
Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, McKnight,
Moore, Morgan, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Murphy,
B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis,
Pope, Ridgeway, Rivers, Robinson, Rose, Rutherford, Sandifer,
Matthews, Simrill, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, Sottile,
Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen,
Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire,
R. Williams, S. Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and
Yow
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gm\24224cm19.docx
Introduced in the House on May 8, 2019
Adopted by the House on May 8, 2019
Summary: Red Hill Baptist Church
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
DateBodyAction Description with journal page number
5/8/2019HouseIntroduced and adopted (House
Journalpage 16)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
5/8/2019
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO COMMEND RED HILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF RICHLAND COUNTY FOR A
CENTURY AND A HALF OF MINISTRY AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO
EXTEND WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CHURCH’S
HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased
to learn that Red Hill Baptist Church has celebrated the milestone
of its one hundred fiftieth anniversary; and
Whereas, at the time when slaves attended the same church as
their slave owner, Congaree Baptist Church was established in 1775,
and in 1868, some Black members left Congaree Baptist Church to
organize Red Hill Baptist Church in a vacant house on a clay knoll
under the ministry of Reverend Jonas Anchrom; and
Whereas, two years later, Reverend Anchrom died one Sunday while
delivering the sermon. Deacon Steven S. Cochran became the second
pastor of Red Hill in 1877, and under his leadership the Sunday
School Department was organized; and
Whereas, Reverend James Scott, the third pastor, led the growing
congregation until his death in 1906, and during that time the
church built a larger building on its current location three miles
from the first site on land purchased from the Doctor Julius
Huguenin; and
Whereas, as an advocate of strong academic Christian education,
the next pastor, Reverend Robert Jenkins, started a night school
for adults to help those who had been denied an education in their
youth, and Red Hill became known as an influential rural Baptist
church for Blacks in Lower Richland until his death in 1930;
and
Whereas, Reverend Thomas I. Duckett from Benedict College served
as the fifth pastor for ten years, and under his leadership the
Missionary Society and Usher Board were organized, and substantial
repairs were made on the church; and
Whereas, in September 1940, Reverend Lucius Robinson, a teacher
in the Eastover community, was called to serve as interim pastor
for the remainder of the year. He became Red Hill’s sixth pastor
and served for fifty years. During this time, land was deeded to
the church for constructing a larger church. Building started in
1964 and the new sanctuary was dedicated in 1967, with a fellowship
hall and classrooms added later; and
Whereas, only the seventh pastor of Red Hill Baptist in the
church’s onehundred fiftyyear span, Reverend Donnie Carl Chambers
was installed in 1992. Ordained in 1984, he earned a Bachelor of
Divinity in 1987 and served four years as pastor of Goodwill
Baptist in Greenville and was an associate pastor at Zion Baptist
in Columbia; and
Whereas, a member of the Columbia chapter of the NAACP, Reverend
Chambers is affiliated with the South Carolina Congress of
Christian Education, is the past moderator and current vice
moderator for the Wateree Baptist Association Upper Division, and
served as chairman of both the executive council for that division
and for the Wateree Baptist Association Retreat Center; and
Whereas, he labors to develop and equip the congregation to
witness and share the word of God. Together with his beloved wife,
Evangelist Onetha Chambers, he reared three fine children who have
blessed their parents with the love of seven grandchildren; and
Whereas, Reverend Chambers leads Sunday services each week, a
midweek, midday Bible study is taught, and youth worship is held
once a month. A youth minister was added, and services for children
and youth began; and
Whereas, over the years, Red Hill has been active in various
Baptist associations: Gethsemane, Pee Dee, and presently Wateree
Baptist Association Upper Division. The church shared its rich
history in Lower Richland by starting other churches: Mount Zion,
Mount Nebo, Mount Olive, Pleasant Grove, and Agape Ministries;
and
Whereas, upon this sesquicentennial anniversary, the members of
Red Hill Baptist Church celebrate their role as a beacon of light
in Lower Richland, and by God’s help, they will continue the
treasured heritage of worship and service for years to come. Now,
therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives,
by this resolution, commend Red Hill Baptist Church of Richland
County for a century and a half of ministry and service to the
community and extend warmest congratulations on the occasion of the
church’s historic anniversary.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be
presented to Pastor Donnie Carl Chambers.
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