On the recordDecember 5, 2017
December is a special month. We celebrate the birth of Christ, but we are also celebrating a church in Rock Hill, South Carolina, that has done amazing things. It is a 30-year celebration for the First Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It is also celebrating a pastor that has stood the test of time. He has done amazing things at this church. Let me tell you what has occurred over the past 30 years. The church relocated in April 2004 to an 84,000-square-foot facility. It was 52 acres of land. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you, when the First Baptist Church made that move, the land out there was a forest. You didn't see the shopping centers, you didn't see the fast food, you didn't see the service stations and the clothing stores that are there now. They took a chance on faith. I remember when the board took that vote, it wasn't a simple majority. They had to have an 80 percent-plus in agreement of the board to locate there. If that is not democracy, I don't know what is. The budget was $490,000. It increased $2,637,800. They have had over 1,500 baptisms. They sponsored the first African-American congregation for membership in the York Baptist Association in 1994. They sponsored a second African-American congregation for membership in the York Baptist Association in 2017. Let me tell you about Pastor Hogg. Pastor Hogg was born on January 14, 1958. He was born in Roxana, Kentucky.…





