2018 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 159
BY SENATOR TARVER
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Reverend Lonnie Hamilton Jr. for thirty-eight years of faithful Christian
service as pastor of New Boggy Baptist Church in Bethany, Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the Reverend Lonnie Hamilton Jr., a native of Caddo Parish (Rodessa,
Louisiana) confessed his call to the ministry in February of 1973 at the Mount Canaan
Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Harry Blake; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 1973, Reverend Lonnie Hamilton Jr. preached his first
sermon declaring the Gospel that Jesus Christ is Lord; and
WHEREAS, in the history of Mount Canaan Baptist Church, it is noted that
Reverend Lonnie Hamilton Jr. organized and led one of the largest Baptist Training Union
(BTU) programs that unpacked the scriptures and what God requests of us as born again
believers; and
WHEREAS, as Reverend Hamilton devoted himself to the study of God's word and
committed to a ministry of serving the sheep, he assisted with the preaching ministry each
second Sunday at the St. Mary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Pastor
Leon Bell in the Cooper Road area; and
WHEREAS, additionally, he supported the preaching ministry each fourth Sunday
at the Calvary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Pastor A. Blaze until
1980; and
WHEREAS, the New Boggy Baptist Church in 1980 received Reverend Hamilton
as the eleventh pastor of this historical church where he has served faithfully for thirty-eight
years; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Hamilton's tenure places him in a leadership role in the rich
history of the New Boggy Baptist Church that was established in 1869, as the longest serving
pastor; and
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WHEREAS, with his announcement to retire from pastoring effective Sunday,
May 27, 2018, Pastor Hamilton probably never thought he would serve long enough to raise
his children, see them married, and then have grandchildren attending Sunday morning
worship services with him; and
WHEREAS, more than half of his life has been committed to the New Boggy family
for which the church members are eternally grateful; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Hamilton has been blessed abundantly with gifts that have
allowed him to serve God, his family, his country in the United States Marine Corp, and the
students of Southern University at Shreveport in the capacity of professor and chair of the
social sciences department, with an unwavering commitment; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Hamilton's lifelong mission of service to God will culminate
on May 27, 2018, and it is appropriate to recognize this man of God for his long and
effective pastorship.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend the Reverend Lonnie Hamilton Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement
after thirty-eight years of service as pastor of New Boggy Baptist Church in Bethany,
Louisiana, and does hereby extend to him best wishes as he embarks upon the next stage of
his life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Reverend Lonnie Hamilton Jr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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