SLS 17RS-1367 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 100
BY SENATOR MILKOVICH
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Reverend R. Henry Martin for 28 years of outstanding
leadership as the executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Reverend R. Henry Martin for twenty-eight years of outstanding leadership
3 as the executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission.
4 WHEREAS, in 1955, Reverend R. G. Jones and several Christian businessmen
5 founded the Shreveport Rescue Mission for the purpose of providing overnight shelter and
6 gospel service for men passing through Shreveport; and
7 WHEREAS, the mission quickly became a sign of hope and help, not only for
8 transient men, but also for local homeless, hungry, and hurting citizens; and
9 WHEREAS, in 1988, a new era for the mission began with the appointment of
10 Reverend R. Henry Martin as executive director, a position he held for the next twenty-eight
11 years; and
12 WHEREAS, in 1992, relatively early in his tenure, and definitely a sign of things to
13 come, the name of the mission was changed to the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission to
14 reflect increased programming, scope of services, and population served; and
15 WHEREAS, while there are many more accomplishments of the mission under the
16 leadership of Reverend Martin, highlights of those accomplishments include the
17 establishment of a new multimillion dollar mission shelter and life center, the establishment
18 of a thrift store to help finance the mission's work, and the institution of a Christ-centered
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SLS 17RS-1367 ORIGINAL
1 recovery program which was complimented by a staff that grew from two to forty-five
2 employees by the time of his retirement; and
3 WHEREAS, other highlights include a new one hundred fifty-four-bed facility built
4 to address the community's growing need for the mission to provide assistance and help to
5 women and families with children, and the establishment of the Women's Discipleship
6 Training Program in 2010; and
7 WHEREAS, finally, no list of the mission's accomplishments during his tenure
8 would be complete without also mentioning the building of a clinic to provide free medical
9 and dental care to guests of the mission; and
10 WHEREAS, Reverend Martin's initiatives are recognized by his peers as a national
11 model for Christian outreach that can transform the lives of homeless individuals by
12 addressing their needs through preaching, counseling, and mentorship; and
13 WHEREAS, in the span of his career with the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission,
14 Reverend Martin's work has helped touch, change, and transform the lives of thousands of
15 homeless men, women, and children with the gospel of Jesus Christ; and
16 WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
17 and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon extraordinary
18 citizens possessed of the leadership, compassion, drive, and generosity such as that of
19 Reverend Martin, and recognition for his accomplishments and contributions is an honor
20 well deserved.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
22 does hereby commend Reverend R. Henry Martin for twenty-eight years of outstanding
23 leadership as the executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission and wish him
24 only the best in his retirement.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
26 Reverend R. Henry Martin.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
SR 100 Original 2017 Regular Session Milkovich
Commends Reverend R. Henry Martin for his twenty-eight years of outstanding leadership
as the executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission.
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