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First Extraordinary Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 18
BY SENATORS WILLARD-LEWIS AND BROOME
A RESOLUTION
To commend Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton for three years of pastoral service at the Greater
St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans.
WHEREAS, on Sunday, April 10, 2011, the Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist
Church family celebrated and honored their pastor, Dr. Debra B. Morton, for three years of
pastoral service; and
WHEREAS, the theme for the event was "3D: Reach, Touch and Experience
Purpose", the guest speaker was Bishop Stephen Hall from Atlanta, Georgia, and the guest
psalmist was Jasmine Morton Ross, daughter of the celebrated honoree; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Debra B. Morton is the much admired and beloved Senior Pastor
of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the
Co-Pastor of Changing A Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, she takes the greatest delight in her personal relationship with Jesus
Christ; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton is married to Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr., Presiding Bishop
of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (FGBCFI); and
WHEREAS, she takes pride in her role as wife, and mother of her three children -
Jasmine, Paul Jr., and Christiann - and grandmother to little Elvin, London Paul, Jakai, and
Paul III; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton serves as General Overseer of the women's division and
Daughters of the Promise (DOP) at the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International
(FGBCFI) and in this position, she oversees and ministers to more than 20,000 women
annually; and
WHEREAS, she was the founder of the Women of Excellence Ministry (WOE) in SR NO. 18 ENROLLED
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1987 and through this program, Dr. Morton has nurtured thousands of women for over 15
years; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, Pastor Debra B. Morton was ordained as an Elder, thereby
earning the ground-breaking distinction as one of the first ordained female elders to preach
in the Baptist pulpit; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton hosted weekly an early morning television and radio talk
show, "Morning Coffee", where discussions of everyday life were infused with spiritual
application and during these shows, it was common to hear Dr. Morton proclaim, "Jesus is
better than a good cup of coffee; He is Lord!"; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, Pastor Debra B. Morton received her Doctor of Ministry degree
from Friends International Christian University; and
WHEREAS, she has written six books, her most recent being, "I'm in Love with My
Pastor BUT He Still Has "Two Wives"! and was the executive producer of the hit album,
"Where There Is a Will There Is A Way," featuring the WOE Mass Choir; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Morton was nominated for a prestigious Stellar Award and received
the James Cleveland Award from Gospel Truth Magazine in Las Vegas; and
WHEREAS, in October 2002, Debra B. Morton, along with WOE, opened SpaNobia,
a full-service day spa salon that reflected the standards of God's excellency of which both
the organization and its founder embrace; and
WHEREAS, a new fragrance line, "Blessings in a Bottle" was launched by Dr.
Morton with some of the proceeds going to help benefit the House of Promise, a home for
troubled teen girls; and
WHEREAS, in April 2008, Dr. Morton was ordained as the pastor of Greater St.
Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, in July 2008, Greater St. Stephen uptown location was destroyed by an
electrical fire and after much prayer and deliberation, Pastor Debra B. Morton made the
decision to rebuild Greater St. Stephen F.G.B.C. east location; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused immense destruction to the Greater
St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church and in January 2010, through strength and
perseverance, Pastor Debra B. Morton succeeded in the rebuilding of the east location; and SR NO. 18 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, the eternal goal of Pastor Debra B. Morton is to tear down the kingdom
of darkness as she prophetically brings light to all who will hear her.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton for three years of pastoral service at the
Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE