SLS 11RS-1321 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 65
BY SENATOR DORSEY
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Reverend Thomas N. Bessix, of the New Gideon Baptist
Church, on being named President of the Fourth District's Congress of Christian Education.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend and congratulate Reverend Thomas N. Bessix on being named the President2
of the Fourth District's Congress of Christian Education.3
WHEREAS, Reverend Thomas N. Bessix has been a driving force for change by4
setting ideas in motion, moving beyond mere rhetoric to overt acts of enlightenment; and5
WHEREAS, in May 1996, Thomas N. Bessix was licensed as a minister and was6
then ordained at Mt. Gideon Baptist Church in Maringouin, Louisiana under the leadership7
of Reverend Reginal L. Pitcher in August of 1997; and8
WHEREAS, on the first Sunday of July 2000, Reverend Bessix became pastor of9
New Gideon Baptist Church located at 2542 Balis Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and 10
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Pastor Bessix, Mt. Gideon's membership grew11
spiritually as the attendance to Bible Study, Fulfillment Hour (Sunday School) and Sunday12
Morning Worship grew tremendously; and13
WHEREAS, in 2007, a second worship service was added along with the launching14
of the construction of a new Educational/Life Center; and15
WHEREAS, Reverend Thomas N. Bessix is an honor graduate of Shady Grove High16
School, a graduate of Southern University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree17
in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, and he18 SR NO. 65
SLS 11RS-1321 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 2
completed studies at Louisiana State University where he became certified in Special1
Education and is currently enrolled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary working2
towards a Master's of Divinity in Biblical Languages; and3
WHEREAS, Reverend Bessix is a member of the Fourth District Missionary Baptist4
Association, East Baton Rouge Minister's Conference, Louisiana State Baptist Convention,5
National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and6
WHEREAS, Reverend Thomas N. Bessix and his wife, Dr. Kimberly Davis Bessix,7
have been married for eight years; and8
WHEREAS, Reverend Bessix does not rest on his laurels, for each day brings fresh9
opportunities for service and compassion as the church's mission is "to be a church driven10
by evangelism, just as that of Jesus Christ, to seek and to save that which is lost".11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana12
does hereby commend Reverend Thomas N. Bessix for outstanding contributions made on13
behalf of his congregation, his community, and his state.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does15
hereby commend Reverend Thomas N. Bessix for a job well done, as he embraces his term16
as President of the Fourth District's Congress of Christian Education.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to18
Reverend Thomas N. Bessix.19
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michael Bell.
DIGEST
Dorsey SR No. 65
Commends Reverend Thomas N. Bessix on being named President of the Fourth District's
Congress of Christian Education.