Assembly Resolution No. 253

BY: M. of A. Raynor

COMMEMORATING the 90th Anniversary of the Church
of God in Christ Little Zion of Freeport, New York,
and paying tribute to Bishop Frank Anthone White for
28 years of devoted service

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
90th Anniversary of the Church of God in Christ Little Zion of Freeport,
New York, and to pay tribute to Bishop Frank Anthone White for 28 years
of devoted service; and

WHEREAS, For nine decades, the Church of God in Christ Little Zion
has stood as a landmark house of worship in the Village of Freeport; and

WHEREAS, A "Beacon of Hope" and a prominent center of spiritual
enrichment for families across Long Island, the Church of God in Christ
Little Zion has served as a viable force, meeting the spiritual and
emotional needs of its population; and

WHEREAS, In 1929, a small group of Christians assembled with the
common goal to bring a church to Freeport; amidst the slowly advancing
times, slackened all the more by the Great Depression, prayer and
supplication led to the establishment of a small mission on Sunrise
Highway just across from the Cotton Inn; and

WHEREAS, Among the early founders of the Church of God in Christ
Little Zion were: Mother Gordon, Mother Valentine, Elder F. Parker, and
Elder Herbert E. Fletcher who would become the church's first pastor;
its succession of pastors as the church's existence took shape was Elder
Fletcher, followed by Elder Walls and Elder Paul Craig; and

WHEREAS, After the resignation of Elder Craig in the late 1930s,
Elder Lafayette Winbush became the next pastor, serving for 18 years;
during his tenure, he made significant contributions, including naming
the church; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Elder Lafayette Winbush, the
Church of God in Christ Little Zion was officially incorporated on
September 25, 1944; shortly after its incorporation, 19 Helen Avenue was
purchased from the Second Baptist Church; this location would become the
church's home for the next 28 years; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent S.L. Osburn led the Church of God in Christ
Little Zion for a short time, before Elder Carol Cox became the next
spiritual leader; and

WHEREAS, From 1956 to 1972, Bishop Otha Miema Kelly, Jurisdictional
Prelate of Eastern New York, served as Zion's pastor; although he did
not initially come to stay, he remained at the helm of the church for 16
years; and

WHEREAS, On November 26, 1972, the Church of God in Christ Little
Zion opened its doors at its new location at 312 Grand Avenue; during
this time, Bishop Kelly passed the mantle to Elder Frank White; this was
the first time in the church's history that there was a young pastor,
complimented by the support of an endearing wife, raising a family, at
the helm of the church; and

WHEREAS, Elder Frank White's eldest child and only son, Frank
Anthone, played an active role in the ministry; a musical genius, he
served as organist at the church, started his own musical group, The
Voices of Truth, and hosted musical events regularly; these activities
served as a supplemental magnet to attract young people to the Zion
Experience, and as such, Sunday and weekly services continued to
increase in size; and

WHEREAS, In only 10 years, the Church of God in Christ Little Zion's
mortgage was paid off with renovations soon following to accommodate the
growing congregation; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, the Church of God in Christ Little Zion's Pastor,
Superintendent Frank O. White, was consecrated Prelate of the
newly-formed Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Eastern New York, Church
of God in Christ, Inc.; upon his return from the 1991 Holy Convocation
in Memphis, Tennessee, he appointed the Elder Frank Anthone White as
Little Zion's Assistant Pastor; and

WHEREAS, The Ministry of the Preached Word, the talent and the
business management expertise of Elder Frank Anthone White attracted
hundreds of souls to Zion; seven years after being named Assistant
Pastor, he was appointed Co-Pastor of the Church of God in Christ Little
Zion; and

WHEREAS, On September 8, 2001, the ceremonial ground breaking for
Zion's new Cathedral took place; one year later, on September 16, 2002,
it was time to say good-bye to the edifice Little Zion called home for
30 years; and

WHEREAS, On the morning of April 23, 2003, tons of steel and other
construction materials were delivered to the excavated site at 312 Grand
Avenue to begin the construction of the building which would become
known as "The House that Prayer Built"; and

WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous direction of Bishop Frank Anthone
White, the Church of God in Christ Little Zion 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 90th Anniversary of the Church of God in Christ Little

Zion of Freeport, New York, and paying tribute to Bishop Frank Anthone
White for 28 years of devoted service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Bishop Frank Anthone White, the Church of God in Christ
Little Zion.