Dr. Gary C. Redding Recognized by SC House.

On March 3, 2011, Dr. Gary C. Redding, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of North Augusta was recognized by the South Carolina House of Representatives with a House Resolution. The occasion was to recognize his retirement and commend him for 22 years of service to his congregation, his community and his God. Reps. Hixon, J. R. Smith, Taylor and Young: Introduced the Resolution: H. 3781 The Resolution passed.

Below is the complete text of the resolution and will be forwarded to Dr. Redding.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DR. GARY C. REDDING, SENIOR PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NORTH AUGUSTA, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF SELFLESS SERVICE TO HIS CONGREGATION, HIS COMMUNITY, AND HIS GOD.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Dr. Gary C. Redding will begin a well-deserved retirement from full-time pastoral ministry on March 31, 2011; and

Whereas, having previously served other churches as senior pastor, Dr. Redding became pastor of First Baptist Church of North Augusta in 1989; and

Whereas, in the church's history, he is the longest-serving pastor, and he has served First Baptist Church of North Augusta longer than any other church in his own ministry; and

Whereas, the church has experienced multiple expansions under his ministry, such as the addition of a three thousand-seat worship center in 1998, the Children's Learning Center in 2009, new office space, and a youth worship area; and

Whereas, Dr. Redding has led the church in emphasizing overseas missions by sending hundreds of church members to minister as far away as South America, Africa, Asia, and Canada; and

Whereas, under his leadership, the church has focused intentional ministry on children, with over two thousand children having participated in the church's weekday education programs, over ten thousand having been involved in Vacation Bible School, and fifteen thousand middle-school children having engaged in wholesome Friday night activities at the church; and

Whereas, he has encouraged the church to have a practical awareness of the problem of homelessness so that the church has provided over a thousand homeless individuals meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas; and

Whereas, on a weekly basis, he has ministered to businessmen in the community with meetings he began in 1989, Business by the Book, where business leaders gather for lunch and messages to inspire them to put biblical principles into practice in the workplace; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the legacy of ministry that Dr. Gary C. Redding has given to our State and wish him continued happiness and success in his retirement. 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 honor Dr. Gary C. Redding, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of North Augusta, upon the occasion of his retirement, and commend him for twenty-two years of selfless service to his congregation, his community, and his God.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Dr. Gary C. Redding.