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
26, 1976; the clean and fresh building could accommodate 270 people, and
was comprised of a small kitchen, office, and restrooms; a ladies room
and a men's room; and


WHEREAS, Within 10 years, five different Pastors led Pentecostal
Circle Tabernacle, Inc., and Vashti Stewart and Constance Foster were
ordained as the first evangelists of Pentecostal Circle Tabernacle in
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.