ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 179
BY REPRESENTATIVE HALL
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Tuesday, June 9, 2015, as Zion Hill Church Day at the state capitol and to
commend its church leaders and members for their unity and devotion to God.
WHEREAS, the Zion Hill Church in Pineville, Louisiana, was founded more than
ninety years ago in the home of Reverend and Mrs. E. Z. Hall; and
WHEREAS, Zion Hill's vision is for its belief to line up with the Word of God and
direct people to the Word of God; to worship, evangelize, disciple, fellowship, and minister;
and for its members to be in constant worship and praise to God; and
WHEREAS, Joshua Joy Dara, Sr., was born in Nigeria, West Africa and became a
United States citizen in 1998; and
WHEREAS, as a man who values education, Joshua Dara, Sr., earned an associate
degree from Kwara State College of Technology in Nigeria; a bachelor's degree from
California Baptist University in Riverside, California; a juris doctor degree from Southern
University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and a masters of law degree from the
University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, Joshua Dara, Sr., answered the call on his life and entered the
ministry by serving under a number of pastors and ministry leaders across Africa and the
United States; and
WHEREAS, as a committed man of God who is gifted with many talents, Joshua
Dara, Sr., has served as a pianist, organist, music director, minister of music, associate
pastor, and armor bearer; and
WHEREAS, after ten years of ministry work on two continents, Dr. Dara was
ordained as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ in 1990; and
WHEREAS, six years later, Dr. Dara became the pastor of Zion Hill Church and has
taken the church to greater heights; and
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WHEREAS, Pastor Dara and his wife, Elizabeth, along with their five children, have
been in proud and passionate service to Zion Hill for almost twenty years; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Dr. Dara, Zion Hill has grown from a humble
church of seventy-five members to a thriving congregation of more than three thousand five
hundred; and
WHEREAS, Zion Hill has several television broadcasts, a multimillion dollar
sanctuary, a state-of-the-art Family Life Center, and plans for a school, business center, and
new sanctuary; and
WHEREAS, with God's guidance and Dr. Dara's faithful obedience, Zion Hill offers
more than fifty ministries that touch every aspect of life including the governmental affairs
educational outreach program that educates young church members about government and
is led by former state representative, Herbert B. Dixon, Sr.; and
WHEREAS, the members of this wonderful church, with its leaders, merit a special
measure of recognition for the tremendous pride, honor, and spiritual growth they bring to
the Pineville community and to the state of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Tuesday, June 9, 2015, as Zion Hill Church
Day at the state capitol and does hereby commend and welcome its church members to the
legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
of Louisiana does hereby recognize the nineteen years of spiritual leadership, inspiration,
and guidance that Dr. and Mrs. Joshua Joy Dara, Sr., have provided to their church and
community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
of Louisiana does hereby wish Dr. Dara and the Zion Hill Church family full measures of
success and happiness in the years to come.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Dr. Joshua Joy Dara, Sr., pastor of Zion Hill Church.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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