HR0785

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives congratulate Pastor Norman Owens and the 
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congregation of the Macedonia Baptist Church of East St. Louis 
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on the occasion of the opening of the new location for the 
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Macedonia Baptist Church; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Prior to January, 1967, the Macedonia Baptist 
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Church had been served by ten pastors; in January of that same 
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year, Rev. Norman E. Owens came to lead the congregation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Owens, his wife, Charlotte, and their three 
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children, Norman Jr., Phyllis, and Michael were living in the 
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nearby town of Madison; they officially came to be with the 
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Macedonia family on the First Sunday of that year; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The family moved to East St. Louis in 1967 because 
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Pastor Owens believed that he could serve the church and 
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community better by being a resident of the city in which he 
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had come to pastor; in May of 1967, Pastor Owens resigned his 
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position as chemistry, physics, and mathematics teacher in the 
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Venice Public School District to devote full time to his ever 
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increasing pastoral responsibilities; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Owens had received his public education in 
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Madison at the Dunbar School, and earned a Bachelor's Degree 
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from SIU at Carbondale; it was in December of his senior year 
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(1955) that Rev. Owens heard the call to come to the Gospel 
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Ministry, and was licensed by the Southern Baptist Church of 
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Madison; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mrs. Owens is a Reading Improvement Teacher at 
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Morrison School in East St. Louis; she began working in the 
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District as an office clerk, and was later promoted to 
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bookkeeping responsibilities in the payroll department; as a 
 


 






HR0785
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LRB093 20627 KEF 49262 r




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person who is always striving for self-improvement, she took 
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upon herself the mammoth task of continuing her education at 
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Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where she 
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received a Bachelor's Degree with majors in elementary 
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Education and Special Education, while working full time, 
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caring for her home, husband, and three children, and working 
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faithfully and diligently in the church to render service 
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wherever she found opportunity; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mrs. Owens has served as president of the Mission 
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Society, teacher of the Mission, Sunday School teacher of Jr. 
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High Students, member and vice chairman of the Board of 
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Christian Education, and as the Director of Educational 
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Ministries; she often serves on special committees, and has 
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always been a tremendous inspiration to Pastor Owens, her 
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children, and all who come under her influence; in addition to 
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her home, community, and local church activities, she, along 
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with her husband, is very active in District, State, and 
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National Denominational work; and
 
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    WHEREAS, A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new location of 
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the Macedonia Baptist Church was held on February 1, 2004; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Pastor Norman Owens and the Macedonia Baptist 
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Church on their new church; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented Pastor Norman Owens as an expression of our respect 
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and esteem.