2017 -- H 6343

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LC002869

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE 25TH PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE REV. DR. AND MRS.

CARL H. BALARK'S SERVICE TO THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH

     Introduced By: Representatives Ranglin-Vassell, Shekarchi, Hull, Giarrusso, and
Williams

     Date Introduced: June 15, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Ebenezer Baptist Church is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and is

part of the American Baptist denomination of churches; and

     WHEREAS, Founded in 1887 and incorporated in Rhode Island, the Ebenezer Baptist

Church is the largest African-American Baptist church in our state and embraces twenty-one

ethnicities and cultures within its congregation; and

     WHEREAS, The church’s mission, which reflects the entreaties of Matthew 28:19-20, “is

to bring people to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, develop them in Christ-like (Christian)

maturity and equip them for ministry in the church and life mission in the world in order to

magnify God's name”; and  

     WHEREAS, For the past two and a half decades, the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Carl H. Balark

have dedicated their hearts and minds in faithful service as Pastor and First Lady to the

congregation at the Ebenezer Baptist Church; and

     WHEREAS, Pastor Balark found his calling at a young age.  His mother and father

encouraged his innate love of people and his keen interest in God and Church.  He attained

degrees from Morgan State University, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, and

Virginia University of Lynchburg; and

     WHEREAS, Pastor Balark served as Pastor for two churches in Virginia, Bethel Baptist

Church and Gospel Temple Baptist.  In addition, he became the first African-American President

of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches and has earned a plethora of honors and

distinctions; and

     WHEREAS, Since June of 1992, Rev. Balark has served as Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer

Baptist Church.  He has been married to his lovely wife for thirty-four years and together they

have proven to be a dynamic force within the community; and  

     WHEREAS, Providing parishioners and the community with leadership and spiritual

guidance, the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Balark have provided 25 years of impeccable service to the

members of the church as well as the larger Rhode Island community and have truly earned our

respect, gratitude, and admiration; now, therefore be it 

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and congratulates the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Carl H. Balark on

the occasion of their 25th Pastoral Anniversary of dedicated service to the congregation of the

Ebenezer Baptist Church.  May they have good health and many more years of benevolent service

to their fellow man; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Carl H. Balark.

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LC002869

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