HLS 25RS-973 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 29
BY REPRESENTATIVE LYONS
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Pastor Damian J. Brown
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Pastor Damian J. Brown.
3 WHEREAS, Pastor Damian J. Brown was born and raised in Avondale, Louisiana;
4he is the son of Kerry Brown, Sr., and the late Diane Davis; he graduated from L.W. Higgins
5High School in Marrero, Louisiana, and went on to study at Southern University and A&M
6College in Baton Rouge; he is currently continuing his theological studies at Andersonville
7Baptist Seminary in Camilla, Georgia; and
8 WHEREAS, Pastor Brown was baptized in March 1993 under the guidance of his
9cherished pastor and mentor, the late Reverend Vernon S. Joshua, at Second St. John
10Missionary Baptist Church in Avondale; after Reverend Joshua's passing, he joined First
11Pilgrims Baptist Church in 2004 and served under Pastor Eugene Mitchell as minister of
12Christian education, new members coordinator, and Sunday school superintendent; and
13 WHEREAS, Pastor Brown was called to serve under Dr. M.C. Zeno at St. Joseph
14Missionary Baptist Church, where he remained until accepting the call to pastoral ministry;
15he was ordained by the Westside Missionary Baptist Association under Dr. J.L. Hampton
16on November 1, 2013, and has emerged as a strong leader in the Baptist community; and
17 WHEREAS, Pastor Brown has served the Westside Missionary Baptist Association
18in numerous capacities, including president of the Minister's Alliance, secretary of the
19Scholarship Commission, and executive secretary of the parent body; he currently serves as
20vice president of the Social Justice Ministry and vice director of the Young Pastors' Division
21of the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention; and
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HR NO. 29
1 WHEREAS, Pastor Brown was selected as the fourth pastor of Little Zion Baptist
2Church in Avondale on November 11, 2014, and was installed by the Westside Missionary
3Baptist Association on December 5, 2014; under his leadership, the church experienced
4considerable growth, and in 2016, he unveiled plans for the church's reconstruction; the
5reconstruction was delayed when Hurricane Ida struck in August 2021 and damaged both
6Little Zion and First Baptist Church of Avondale, where the congregation had temporarily
7relocated for worship; and
8 WHEREAS, Pastor Brown remained firm during crisis and ensured that every
9member of his congregation received personal care and financial support from the church;
10he relocated services to the James Simmons Community Center, and on November 6, 2022,
11Little Zion held the first service in its new sanctuary; the sanctuary was officially dedicated
12on January 8, 2023; and
13 WHEREAS, under Pastor Brown's leadership, Little Zion has contributed more than
14$980,000 to the Avondale community; the church provides meals, tutoring, and enrichment
15programs in partnership with local leaders, including Councilman Deano Bonano and Bryon
16Lee; during the COVID-19 pandemic, he coordinated testing and vaccinations with
17InclusivCare and secured state support for struggling families; aside from his clerical
18responsibilities, he was appointed commissioner for District 2 of the Jefferson Parish
19Housing Authority, where he continues his advocacy for justice, equity, and community
20development; and
21 WHEREAS, Pastor Brown is a certified instructor and dean of the Sunday School
22Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; in this role, he continues
23the organization's efforts to equip and empower the next generation of Christian leaders; he
24is also deeply involved with the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention, the
25Westside Missionary Baptist Association, and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance;
26and
27 WHEREAS, in September 2024, Pastor Brown was elected to serve as the eighth
28pastor of his home church, Second St. John Missionary Baptist Church; he is truly most
29deserving of the highest recognition for his inspiring faith and sincere dedication to
30community service.
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HR NO. 29
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
2Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Pastor Damian J. Brown and does hereby
3extend sincerest wishes that he continue to prosper in all of his spiritual endeavors for many
4more years to come.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 29 Original 2025 Regular Session Lyons
Commends Pastor Damian J. Brown.
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