In Appreciation to the Host Church
The Southwide Baptist Fellowship gathered in Walkertown, NC for annual meetings do hereby note that we have been treated with a grand enthusiastic spirit and a godly example of generosity by the host church, Gospel Light Baptist Church;
And whereas this graciousness extends from the pastoral leadership of Frank Shumate and Matt Morrison extending to everyone in the church with whom we have come in contact;
We, the Southwide Baptist Fellowship gathered for our annual meeting for 2020 do hereby wish to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the overwhelming expressions of your love and the giving of yourselves in the name of the Lord – of which we have been the blessed beneficiary.
“Thank you, to the pastors and to all the people of Gospel Light!”
In Regards to Our Appreciation and Respect for Those Who Serve in Law Enforcement
The Southwide Baptist Fellowship gathered in Walkertown, NC for annual meetings do hereby cite that we have witnessed the recent blatant disrespect, vile insults and even physical attacks that have been brought to bare toward law enforcement personnel in various cities of our nation;
And whereas we know that the vast majority of law enforcement officers are honorable, dedicated public servants who put their lives on the line on our behalf – protecting us from evil doers even while they are being maligned, injured and even killed;
And whereas we find this destructive attitude and violent behavior abhorrent as well as in direct contradiction to the Holy Scriptures – such as are found in Romans 13 and 1Timothy 2;
We, the Southwide Baptist Fellowship gathered for our annual meeting for 2020 do hereby resolve and affirm that …
We fully support, greatly respect and deeply appreciate these law-enforcement heroes who put their lives on the line every day on our behalf;
We further resolve our deep displeasure and disgust with any government official who will not take a clear stand against this wickedness nor take all legal actions to stop it.
In Regard to the Essential Nature of Church Services
The Southwide Baptist Fellowship gathered in Walkertown, NC for annual meetings do hereby note, that in response to the Covid-19 virus some State Governors as well as many county and municipal government officials have taken action (via mandates, directives, declarations, etc.) to stop and/or hinder and/or limit and/or restrict the free attending of public church meetings;
And whereas these edicts are in direct violation of our First Amendment rights;
And whereas we believe as God’s children our first allegiance is to obedience to Him, our Heavenly Father, and this obedience is a foundational matter of our faith expressed in Acts 5:29 “We ought to obey God rather than men.”;
We, the Southwide Baptist Fellowship gathered for our annual meeting for 2020 do hereby resolve and affirm that the public assembly of local church congregations is a “free exercise of our religion” and as such are protected from interference by any government power.
We further resolve that church services should be viewed by any and all government officials as necessary and essential to the wellbeing of the culture, the community, and the citizenry.
