2018 Second Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 30
BY SENATORS LUNEAU, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR, COLOMB,
CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS,
LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS,
MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK, PERRY, PETERSON,
PRICE, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER,
THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Bishop Tom Fred "T. F." Tenney.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the death of Bishop T. F. Tenney, a
celebrated Louisiana faith leader, on Friday, June 1, 2018, at the age of eighty-four; and
WHEREAS, Tom Fred "T. F." Tenney was born and raised in DeRidder, Louisiana,
felt called into ministry and service at a young age; in 1949 at the age of fifteen, he began
his ministry, and at the age nineteen, he assumed his first pastorate in Monroe, Louisiana;
and
WHEREAS, in 1952, he was elected youth secretary of the Louisiana District United
Pentecostal Church, and for sixty-five years from 1952 until his death, almost without
exception, he ministered and held some position within the United Pentecostal Church
International; and
WHEREAS, from 1960-1976, T. F. Tenney held several administrative positions;
from 1976-78, he returned to DeRidder to serve as pastor of his home congregation, and, in
1978, he was elected District Superintendent (Bishop) for the state of Louisiana, charged
with the oversight of three hundred churches and eight hundred ministers and pastors, a
position he held for twenty-seven years until his recent retirement; and
WHEREAS, he attended Apostolic Bible Institute and, in 1992, received an honorary
doctorate from ABI; and
WHEREAS, he was a radio speaker, both on a nationally broadcast radio program
and a local daily program; he was a respected writer and regular contributor to various
religious periodicals; he was the author of eleven books: Pentecost–What's That?, The Flame
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Still Burns, The Main Thing, Advice to Pastors and Other Saints, Beyond the Sunrise, Some
Things I Wish I'd Known, Secret Sources of Power, More Power to You, The Lord Said. . .Or
Was That Me?, Things I Wish I Could Forget, and, his most recent release, Water From An
Old Well; and
WHEREAS, he also served as bishop emeritus of the Louisiana District and was a
member of the Pentecostals of Alexandria; and
WHEREAS, T. F. Tenney and his wife started a ministry called Focused Light; and
WHEREAS, as the Louisiana District United Pentecostal Church stated, "Bishop
Tenney has been a valiant and faithful soldier of the Lord, leading and serving this district,
the UPCI, and churches around the world"; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Tenney is survived by his wife Thetus, son Tommy, daughter
Teri, and many grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Tenney was widely respected and admired and was considered
a giant of the faith, a pioneer for the truth, and above all, a servant of Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, he was the kind of citizen
who represents what is good about Louisiana, a man of wisdom and faith who used his gifts
and talents to change his community for the better; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Tenney will long continue to bring great pride and honor to his
community and to the state of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Bishop T. F.
Tenney, does hereby extend enduring appreciation for his outstanding accomplishments and
singular contributions during a lifetime of dedication and service to God, family, friends,
church, community, and state, and does hereby recognize that his legacy of kindness and
compassion shall live forever in the minds and hearts of all who knew and loved him.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Bishop T. F. Tenney.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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