WHEREAS, for 180 years, Mount Hermon Baptist Church of Danville has provided its congregation with uplifting spiritual guidance, joyful occasions for fellowship and worship, and abundant opportunities for community outreach; and

WHEREAS, established in 1844 under the leadership of its first pastor, the Reverend John Hankins, Mount Hermon Baptist Church has grown over the years from a small rural congregation to a thriving regional church that serves the greater Danville and Pittsylvania County area in myriad ways; and

WHEREAS, the congregation at Mount Hermon Baptist Church, which is an affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, has been dedicated to mission work and sharing the gospel with others from the church's beginning, and the vision and reach of these efforts have expanded greatly over the church's history; and

WHEREAS, Mount Hermon Baptist Church has made a profound and lasting impact on its community through several programs and initiatives, including its GriefShare seminar, the Mount Hermon Early Learning Center, the Awana spiritual education program, its counseling ministry, the Good News Club at Twin Springs Elementary School in Danville, and other charitable endeavors to care for individuals and families in need; and

WHEREAS, Mount Hermon Baptist Church is currently led by the Pastor Steve Chromy, who provides enlightened counsel to the church's members while working tirelessly to ensure the church's well-being and longevity and the fulfillment of its mission; and

WHEREAS, over the past 180 years, Mount Hermon Baptist Church has served to strengthen the faith of the many individuals who have found a greater sense of purpose and belonging within its walls; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Mount Hermon Baptist Church hereby be commended on the occasion of its 180th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Steve Chromy, senior pastor of Mount Hermon Baptist Church, as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the church's history and its contributions to Danville and the Commonwealth.