Title
Recognizing and honoring The Northeast Baptist Church on their 60th Anniversary.
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WHEREAS, As a result of an election held in the Second Baptist Church of Frankford, thirty-five of its members voted to organize a Baptist Church. As a result of this election, The Northeast Baptist Church started on March 17, 1958 in the home of Reverend William H. Anderson; and
WHEREAS, When Reverend Anderson was confined to the Episcopal Hospital shortly after, he advised them against making a panicked decision and suggested that they give themselves a cooling off period, after which they could return to the Second Baptist Church and support it fully; and
WHEREAS, Several weeks later, Rev. Anderson was released from the hospital and further advised the group against permanent organization. However, when it was noticed that outside agitators sought to destroy this group, which had grown to 262, and was holding worship services in Strange's Hall, Sunday, April 21, 1958, Mrs. Katherine Javis made a motion that the group become a regularly organized Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Anderson, who made this his first visit to the Church, put forth the motion which received a volley of 'seconds'. A business meeting was called for May 12, 1958 at which time the Church was organized and Reverend William H. Anderson was called to the pastorate; and
WHEREAS, On June 4, 1958, the Pennsylvania Baptist Association was invited to meet in the Orthodox Street Methodist Church to recognize the Northeast Baptist Church. From this day on, the Northeast Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend Anderson, went about the business of winning souls for Christ; and
WHEREAS, In the Church's 10th year, it had begun to make 'Herculean and spectacular growth economically, physically and spiritually. A complex of buildings that are, today, valued at just under one million dollars were built. The work was done largely by the men of the Church, along with the pastor; and
WHEREAS, After the death of our Late Pastor and Founder, Rev. William H. Anderson, Sr. on September 1, 1973, the Northeast Baptist Church had the foresight to call the Reverend Lee Mason, Jr. In his previous role Rev. Mason had pastored the Mount Moriah Temple Baptist Church in South Philadelphia and was the founder of the New Joy Baptist Church in the same area; and
WHEREAS, In 1974, under the leadership of Pastor Mason, Northeast continued to spawn aspirants to the ministry and the following ministers were licensed and/or ordained during his tenure Rev. Bruce Michael Edwards, Rev. F. L. Donaldson, Rev. Louise Williams Bishop, Rev. Nathaniel Luke Mason, Rev. Jeanette Freeman, Rev. Sarah Hyman, Rev. Delores Gardner and Rev. Jonathan A. Mason, Sr. As God gives the increase in His due time, Northeast can humbly boast over 400 persons being baptized during the pastorate of Rev. Mason; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Mason established many learning agencies of the Church, which included Monday night Doctrinal Orientation Class. He also established Joy Night which took place every Sunday at 8:00 PM. This service provided many young preachers an opportunity to practice their craft; and
WHEREAS, The Northeast Baptist Church has always and will play an important role in matters of larger concern in the community. When the Organization was still only a few months old a “Life Membership” in the NAACP was purchased. The Church is still allied in every Baptist Movement from the Baptist World Alliance and the Pennsylvania Baptist State of the Congress of Christian Education; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes, honors and celebrates the 60th Anniversary of The Northeast Baptist Church. We thank you for the Organization’s consistent role in the church community and giving the people of the Frankford Area a place to worship.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Northeast Baptist Church in honor of their 60th Anniversary as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
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