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WHEREAS, on July 8, 2004 the Central Baptist Church family will gather to proudly celebrate 113 years of glorious servitude and spiritual fulfillment for their church and the community and city it resides in; and
WHEREAS, in 1891 Reverend John H. Pryor, who pastored Ebenezer Baptist Church of Pittsburgh, organized approximately 150 people and formed Central Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Reverend E. P. Jackson of Virginia, and Reverend John H. Boone of New Jersey served as the second and third pastors of Central Baptist Church respectively. Under the leadership and direction of Reverend George B. Howard, the fifth pastor from West Virginia, Central Baptist Church grew at such a rate that Centennial Methodist Church was purchased to accommodate the increase in membership; and
WHEREAS, Reverend W. Augustus Jones of Ohio and Dr. Cassius A. Ward of Massachusetts served as the fifth and sixth pastors of Central Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Cornell E. Talley became Central's Pastor in 1938 and rebuilt Central eight years after the Church fire in 1934 and lead the congregation into a new sanctuary in September 1945; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Isaac Green of Texas, Central Baptist Church minister for thirty-one years founded and established an elementary school-Central Baptist Academy, organized an evangelistic outreach radio ministry, a federal credit union for the membership, established a tutoring center, television ministry, lunch for the needy, and other activities and services for the church membership and the community; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Victor J. Grigsby of Ford City, Pennsylvania became the ninth pastor of Central Baptist Church in December 1996 and started or continued several ministries such as: women & men ministries, seniors ministry, JAM youth ministry, block prayer groups, and the trustee ministry; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Grigsby and Central Baptist church have again demonstrated their continued commitment to and vision for the Hill District community with the completion of New Victory Center. A newly renovated retail building, that sits on the corner of Centre Avenue and Kirkpatrick Street in the heart of the Hill District. Which is only phase one of their redevelopment goals for the area; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh joins the community in recognizing and giving praise to Central Baptist Church for its 113th anniversary and its continued commitment to the spiritual salvation of residents of the Hill District residents and beyond.