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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The members of Greater Jerusalem Missionary Baptist |
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| 6 | 7 | | Church in Houston are joining together on May 28, 2017, to honor |
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| 7 | 8 | | Pastor Joe Fred Russell for two decades of dedicated service to that |
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| 8 | 9 | | congregation; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Formerly pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church in |
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| 10 | 11 | | Corrigan, Pastor Russell assumed the leadership of Greater |
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| 11 | 12 | | Jerusalem in 1997; since that time, the congregation has added |
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| 12 | 13 | | hundreds of new members, and a number of deacons have been ordained; |
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| 13 | 14 | | the church maintains an intensive focus on evangelism and provides |
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| 14 | 15 | | many opportunities to its members for fellowship and spiritual |
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| 15 | 16 | | growth; it also ministers regularly to the sick and homebound and |
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| 16 | 17 | | sponsors such vital programs as a food pantry and a clothes closet; |
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| 17 | 18 | | and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure, Pastor Russell has |
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| 19 | 20 | | overseen the acquisition of land to accommodate further growth of |
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| 20 | 21 | | the church; moreover, the congregation has purchased and renovated |
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| 21 | 22 | | a number of commercial properties to house a counseling center, a |
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| 22 | 23 | | recreation center, and businesses that benefit the community; among |
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| 23 | 24 | | these is the Greater Jerusalem Cosmetology School, which offers |
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| 24 | 25 | | vocational assistance and frequently provides services to the |
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| 25 | 26 | | indigent; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, An inspiring clergyman, Pastor Joe Russell has led |
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| 27 | 28 | | Greater Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church with conviction and |
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| 28 | 29 | | compassion, and he has earned the lasting respect and admiration of |
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| 29 | 30 | | his congregants and members of the community at large; now, |
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| 30 | 31 | | therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 32 | 33 | | Legislature hereby honor Pastor Joe Fred Russell on the occasion of |
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| 33 | 34 | | his 20th pastoral anniversary at Greater Jerusalem Missionary |
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| 34 | 35 | | Baptist Church and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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| 35 | 36 | | success with his important work; and, be it further |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 37 | 38 | | prepared for Pastor Russell as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 38 | 39 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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