Honor Bethesda Healing Center

Senate Resolution No. 3710 BY: Senator HAMILTON COMMEMORATING the 45th Anniversary of Bethesda Healing Center of Brooklyn, New York WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Bethesda Healing Center of Brooklyn, New York; and WHEREAS, For 45 years, Bethesda Healing Center has strived to reach mankind and serve each other with life changing truths through evangelism, teaching, healing, equipping and empowering, serving, discipling and adoring God; and WHEREAS, In May of 1973, a group of like-minded people founded Pentecostal Circle Tabernacle, Inc.; seven people attended the first Sunday service in a small renovated pool room at 89 Newport Street in Brooklyn; and WHEREAS, At the time of its inception, Sydney Hawthorne served as Pastor, Solomon Grant served as Treasurer, Clarence Christie served as Deacon, and Theodosia McPherson served as Secretary; and WHEREAS, Eventually a Sunday school program was implemented with Gladys Grant serving as its first Superintendent and with 18 students in regular attendance; a Ladies Auxiliary was also created with Constance Foster holding the position of its first President and Lena Mullings as Vice President; and WHEREAS, Through the years, the Church held numerous fundraisers to benefit various missionary efforts all over the country including International Prison Ministry, Christians in Action, The Douglas Foundation and Save the Children Fund; and WHEREAS, After Pastor Hawthorne left, Brother John Brown, one of the elder members and the most experienced of the group, was asked to be the spiritual leader of the Church's 34 congregants; and WHEREAS, The Church then joined with The United Evangelical Outreach, which helped Pentecostal Circle find a potential new place to worship; in April of 1976, the Church purchased a building at 80 East 95th Street; and WHEREAS, Through the hard work and indomitable faith of many volunteers, the repaired and renovated building was dedicated on June

1983; and WHEREAS, The youth ministry also grew and sponsored yearly weekend retreats, which were well attended by the entire congregation and other churches in the community; and WHEREAS, The music ministry was established through The Lighthouse Disciples, a dynamic group of musicians and singers including Maurice Grant, Clive Mullings, Winston James, Michael Case, and Carl James; after Michael moved, Jeffery Coston joined the group; and WHEREAS, Since 1986, Dr. Annette Lazarus-Rose has held the role of spiritual leader for the Church; under her direction, the Church joined The Pentecostal Church of God with its headquarters in Joplin Missouri; Reverend Rick Farley was assigned as District Overseer; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Senior Pastor Dr. Annette Lazarus-Rose, the Church has thrived and prospered; in addition to her work in Brooklyn, she preaches throughout the United States, Canada, England, the Caribbean and Africa; and WHEREAS, In 1991, Arthur Nurse, Augustus Spooner and Andrea Palmer were ordained as ministers, and subsequently, assumed the responsibilities of teaching bible study, seminars and preaching whenever necessary; the ministers are also responsible for community evangelistic outreach ministry, which takes place annually during the summer months of each year; and WHEREAS, The Missionary Department, now under the leadership of Reverend Cecile Jamir and Reverend Arthur Nurse, has grown tremendously and has been divided into both local and international missions; and WHEREAS, In addition to its remarkable outreach ministries, the Church offers its members numerous opportunities to share their talents in programs such as The Kingsmen Fellowship, Youth Department, Women's Ministry, Christian Education Ministry, Music Ministry, Dance Ministry, and Drama Ministry; and WHEREAS, In 2006, Pentecostal Circle Tabernacle, Inc. was transformed into the Bethesda Healing Center, a beautiful new sanctuary; and WHEREAS, Bethesda Healing Center stands on the threshold of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Bethesda Healing Center, fully confident that this commemoration reflects the belief in those values which enhance the dignity and purpose of life; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Dr. Annette Lazarus-Rose, Senior Pastor, Bethesda Healing Center.