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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 Reverend Dr. Oscar D. Epps Sr., pastor of |
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| 6 | 7 | | Community Missionary Baptist Church in DeSoto, is serving as Pastor |
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| 7 | 8 | | of the Day for the Texas House of Representatives on April 27, 2017; |
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| 8 | 9 | | and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, After graduating from Justin F. Kimball High School |
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| 10 | 11 | | in Dallas in 1985, Oscar Epps earned a four-year diploma from |
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| 11 | 12 | | Southern Bible Institute, a bachelor's degree in Christian |
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| 12 | 13 | | counseling from the School of Scriptures in Dallas, and a |
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| 13 | 14 | | bachelor's degree in Christian ministry from Dallas Baptist |
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| 14 | 15 | | University; he has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from the |
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| 15 | 16 | | Sure Foundation School of Scripture; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, In 1993, Reverend Epps became the founding pastor of |
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| 17 | 18 | | Community Missionary Baptist Church, where he continues to serve as |
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| 18 | 19 | | senior pastor; in addition, he is the former president of the Texas |
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| 19 | 20 | | Baptist African American Fellowship and the moderator of the Dallas |
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| 20 | 21 | | Baptist Association, and he is also the first African American to |
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| 21 | 22 | | serve as chaplain for the DeSoto Police Department; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, A leader in his community, Reverend Epps served as |
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| 23 | 24 | | president of the Community Task Force of the Cedar Hill Independent |
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| 24 | 25 | | School District, which earned him the district's 2003-2004 |
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| 25 | 26 | | Volunteer of the Year Award; he was also named 2004 YMCA Father of |
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| 26 | 27 | | the Year by the Greater Metropolitan YMCA; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Reverend Epps benefits from |
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| 28 | 29 | | the love and support of his wife, Belenthia, as well as that of his |
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| 29 | 30 | | three children, Destany, Oscar II, and Aderius, and his |
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| 30 | 31 | | grandchildren, Desman Manuel and Aerington Epps; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Ever since he was called to preach the Gospel in |
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| 32 | 33 | | 1987, Reverend Epps has inspired countless people with his message |
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| 33 | 34 | | of grace and goodwill, and it is indeed a pleasure to welcome him to |
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| 34 | 35 | | this chamber; now, therefore, be it |
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| 35 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 36 | 37 | | Legislature hereby honor the Reverend Dr. Oscar D. Epps Sr. for his |
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| 37 | 38 | | service as Pastor of the Day and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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| 38 | 39 | | for the future; and, be it further |
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| 39 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 40 | 41 | | prepared for Reverend Epps as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 41 | 42 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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