84R10574 KSM-D By: Sheffield H.R. No. 914 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Members of the clergy dedicate themselves to the spiritual education and enrichment of others, and Pastor Shannon D. McMullen of Bible Way Missionary Baptist Church in Copperas Cove has long demonstrated his commitment to that worthy goal; and WHEREAS, Pastor McMullen became an ordained deacon while stationed in Erlangen, Germany, with the United States military; after returning home, he preached his first sermon in 1978, and on January 21, 1980, he established Bible Way Missionary Baptist; under his steady guidance, the church has acquired a 14-acre campus and constructed both a sanctuary and an education building; Pastor McMullen has also overseen the formation of ministries that provide critical support to the church and its mission and that offer members of the congregation welcome opportunities for fellowship and spiritual growth; and WHEREAS, In addition to playing an instrumental role in the growth and development of Bible Way MBC, Pastor McMullen has given freely of his time and talents to a number of denominational and clerical organizations; he is past president of the Bell County Ministerial Alliance of Killeen/Copperas Cove and past chair of the Evangelical Board of the Good Hope Western District Association of Waco, and he is a member of several mission boards; and WHEREAS, This civic-minded leader also founded the Copperas Cove Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee, which has organized an annual march and commemoration service since 1999; at the January 2013 service, Pastor McMullen was honored by the Greater Killeen Pastors Fellowship with its first Soldier of Freedom Award; and WHEREAS, Pastor McMullen was born in Eupora, Mississippi, and graduated from Eupora High School; he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in social science and history and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and rehabilitation services; he received his master's degree in divinity from Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is currently a doctoral candidate in theology and divinity; and WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Pastor McMullen enjoys the love and support of his wife, Anne, and their son, Shawn DeMeras McMullen; and WHEREAS, Success in leading a church requires a tremendous commitment of time, an ability to inspire congregants through words and deeds, and an unwavering belief in the importance of faith, and Pastor Shannon McMullen truly exemplifies the highest standards of his vocation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby honor Pastor Shannon D. McMullen for his many years of service to Bible Way Missionary Baptist Church and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Pastor McMullen as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.