South Carolina H 5588: Powdersville HS baseball champs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5588 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 28, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

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.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on April 28, 2026 at 12:39 PM