ENROLLED
2016 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 12
BY REPRESENTATIVE JONES
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Reverend Doctor Winston Christopher Ridley, Jr., upon the occasion of his
visit to the great state of Louisiana and fellowship with Mount Esther Baptist Church
of Morgan City.
WHEREAS, Winston C. Ridley, Jr., was baptized at the age of thirteen at Jerusalem
Baptist Church in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, which provided a rich and firm foundation of
religious training; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, Jerusalem Baptist Church granted Rev. Ridley a license to
preach, and he became an associate minister; after six years of training in the ministry,
Rev. Ridley was ordained to preach by the ministerial staff at Rodman Street Missionary
Baptist Church in Pittsburgh and held the position of associate minister until he was called
to pastor Mount Olive Baptist Church in Coraoplis, Pennsylvania, where he served with
dedication and distinction for fourteen years; and
WHEREAS, following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Ridley accepted an
invitation to preach in October 2000 at The Greater First Baptist Church in Washington,
D.C.; by May 2001, he was installed as its pastor; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Ridley immediately employed new ways for the church to
biblically, culturally, and technologically minister to the needs of its members and
community, and while diligently working with his congregation through the years, he
labored and achieved a master of divinity degree in 2006 and a doctor of ministry degree in
2011 from Howard University School of Divinity; and
WHEREAS, the Reverend Doctor Ridley is the proud husband of Bonita LuRose Lee
Ridley, an accomplished coloratura soprano, pianist, and organist; Mrs. Ridley holds the
office of National Coordinator/Chair of the Ministers' Wives and Widows of the National
Baptist Convention, USA, Incorporated; and
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WHEREAS, Dr. Ridley has enhanced his ministry through memberships with the
National Baptist Convention, USA, Incorporated, the Hampton University Ministers'
Conference, the Missionary Baptist Ministers' Conference of Washington, D.C., and
Vicinity, and the Interfaith Council of the mayor of Washington, D.C.; Dr. Ridley also
serves on the board of directors of the Council of Churches of Greater Washington, D.C.;
and
WHEREAS, the ministry of Dr. Ridley has expanded beyond the walls of The
Greater First Baptist Church to the European continent, where he and the Fellowship Choir
of the church ministered to the people of Düsseldorf, Germany, and Stockholm, Sweden; and
WHEREAS, the Reverend Doctor Ridley will preach the Word at the seventeenth
pastoral anniversary of the Reverend Doctor Charles Oatis, Sr., pastor of Mount Esther
Baptist Church in Morgan City, and it is with great joy and gladness that the citizens of
Louisiana welcome Dr. Ridley to the state to celebrate this happy occasion.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the Reverend Doctor Winston C. Ridley, Jr.,
upon his momentous visit to the state and to the pulpit of Mount Esther Baptist Church in
Morgan City and does hereby express best hopes and prayers for God's continued guidance
upon his ministry and his life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the Reverend Dr. Winston C. Ridley, Jr.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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