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First Extraordinary Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 18
BY SENATOR WILLARD-LEWIS
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton for three years of pastoral
service at the Greater St. Stephen Full Baptist Church in New Orleans.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton for three years of pastoral service at the Greater2
St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans.3
WHEREAS, on Sunday, April 10, 2011, the Greater St. Stephen Full Baptist Church4
family celebrated and honored their pastor, Dr. Debra B. Morton, for three years of pastoral5
service; and6
WHEREAS, the theme for the event was "3D: Reach, Touch and Experience7
Purpose", the guest speaker was Bishop Stephen Hall from Atlanta, Georgia, and the guest8
psalmist was Jasmine Morton Ross, daughter of the celebrated honoree; and 9
WHEREAS, Dr. Debra B. Morton is the much admired and beloved Senior Pastor10
of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the11
Co-Pastor of Changing A Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia; and12
WHEREAS, she takes the greatest delight in her personal relationship with Jesus13
Christ; and14
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton is married to Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr., Presiding Bishop15
of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (FGBCFI); and16
WHEREAS, she takes pride in her role as wife, and mother of her three children -17
Jasmine, Paul Jr., and Christiann - and grandmother to little Elvin, London Paul, Jakai, and18 SR NO. 18
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Paul III; and1
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton serves as General Overseer of the women's division and2
Daughters of the Promise (DOP) at the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International3
(FGBCFI) and in this position, she oversees and ministers to more than 20,000 women4
annually; and 5
WHEREAS, she was the founder of the Women of Excellence Ministry (WOE) in6
1987 and through this program, Dr. Morton has nurtured thousands of women for over 157
years; and8
WHEREAS, in 1993, Pastor Debra B. Morton was ordained as an Elder, thereby9
earning the ground-breaking distinction as one of the first ordained female elders to preach10
in the Baptist pulpit; and 11
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton hosted weekly an early morning television and radio talk12
show, "Morning Coffee", where discussions of everyday life were infused with spiritual13
application and during these shows, it was common to hear Dr. Morton proclaim, "Jesus is14
better than a good cup of coffee; He is Lord!"; and15
WHEREAS, in 1999, Pastor Debra B. Morton received her Doctor of Ministry degree16
from Friends International Christian University; and17
WHEREAS, she has written six books, her most recent being, "I'm in Love with My18
Pastor BUT He Still Has "Two Wives"! and was the executive producer of the hit album,19
"Where There Is a Will There Is A Way," featuring the WOE Mass Choir; and20
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton was nominated for a prestigious Stellar Award and received21
the James Cleveland Award from Gospel Truth Magazine in Las Vegas; and22
WHEREAS, in October 2002, Debra B. Morton, along with WOE, opened SpaNobia,23
a full-service day spa salon that reflected the standards of God's excellency of which both24
the organization and its founder embrace; and25
WHEREAS, a new fragrance line, "Blessings in a Bottle" was launched by Dr.26
Morton with some of the proceeds going to help benefit the House of Promise, a home for27
troubled teen girls; and 28
WHEREAS, in April 2008, Dr. Morton was ordained as the pastor of Greater St.29
Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church; and 30 SR NO. 18
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WHEREAS, in July 2008, Greater St. Stephen uptown location was destroyed by an1
electrical fire and after much prayer and deliberation, Pastor Debra B. Morton made the2
decision to rebuild Greater St. Stephen F.G.B.C. east location; and3
WHEREAS, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused immense destruction to the Greater4
St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church and in January 2010, through strength and5
perseverance, Pastor Debra B. Morton succeeded in the rebuilding of the east location; and6
WHEREAS, the eternal goal of Pastor Debra B. Morton is to tear down the kingdom7
of darkness as she prophetically brings light to all who will hear her.8
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana9
does hereby commend Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton for three years of pastoral service at the10
Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to12
Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Willard-Lewis SR No. 18
Commends Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton for three years of pastoral service at the Greater St.
Stephen Full Baptist Church in New Orleans.