HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 99-4708, by Representatives Santos, Tokuda, Veloria, Murray, Kenney, H. Sommers, Lovick, Cody, Poulsen, McIntire, Constantine, Dickerson, Dunshee and Chopp

      WHEREAS, The Washington State House of Representatives recognizes and values the role and the contributions of the church to the development of our citizens and our communities; and

      WHEREAS, The church has historically encompassed roles beyond a religious dimension by providing critical social and economic support for immigrant populations to survive and prosper in our state and across our nation; and

      WHEREAS, May 23, 1999, marks the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Japanese Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington; and

      WHEREAS, Since its inception at the turn of the nineteenth century, the Japanese Baptist Church welcomed newly arrived Japanese immigrants in the Seattle area, facilitated their acculturation to their new surroundings, and laid the foundation for a strong and vibrant ethnic community of second-generation and third-generation Japanese Americans to flourish in the Pacific Northwest; and

      WHEREAS, Forward-thinking congregants of the Japanese Baptist Church played a pivotal role in helping early Japanese immigrant women, many of whom came as picture brides to the United States, in their transition to a new land and to a new life by first providing safety and shelter through such group homes as the "Fujin Home" and by later providing guidance and fellowship for newly married couples; and

      WHEREAS, Community organizations and affiliations, such as the Boys' Club and the Girls' Club, athletic interests, such as basketball and baseball leagues, choirs and musical groups, and critical educational needs, such as the Japanese Baptist Church Kindergarten (later renamed the Broadway Nursery School) were facilitated by the Church's active leadership; and

      WHEREAS, The Japanese Baptist Church persevered through the war years despite profound prejudice and discrimination with help from remarkable individuals, like the Reverend Emery Andrews, and continued to worship together in the Minidoka Relocation Center, thereby sowing the seeds for the remarkable renewal and growth of the church in the postwar years; and

      WHEREAS, The Japanese Baptist Church's centennial anniversary this year brings this organization into a small and select group of local churches to have achieved this level of longevity in our region;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of this 56th Washington Legislature proudly honor this milestone in the remarkable one hundred year history of the Japanese Baptist Church, and in the history of the Japanese-American community in our state, both of which have contributed immeasurably to the rich heritage and culture of the Pacific Northwest; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to the Governor and to the congregation of the Japanese Baptist Church.

          I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

         Resolution 4708 adopted by the House of Representatives

                              May 19, 1999.

________________________________             _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk            Dean R. Foster Co-Chief Clerk