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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, Members of the Fort Worth community gathered on |
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| 6 | 7 | | March 3, 2017, for a banquet celebrating the 60th birthday of Pastor |
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| 7 | 8 | | Bruce D. Datcher of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Before being called to the ministry in 2001, Bruce |
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| 9 | 10 | | Datcher worked to serve underrepresented individuals in North |
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| 10 | 11 | | Central Texas as a young entrepreneur; in 2003, he became interim |
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| 11 | 12 | | pastor of the Ebenezer MBC, and he was installed as pastor a year |
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| 12 | 13 | | later; during his tenure, he has done an exceptional job of guiding |
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| 13 | 14 | | the church's many outreach programs, and he was instrumental in the |
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| 14 | 15 | | establishment of the church's mentorship and college assistance |
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| 15 | 16 | | programs as well as the planning and development of the Brighter |
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| 16 | 17 | | Outlook Community Center; this 15,000-square-foot site offers a |
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| 17 | 18 | | variety of services for senior citizens and benefits hundreds of |
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| 18 | 19 | | children each year by providing them with healthy meals, school |
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| 19 | 20 | | supplies, clothing, and holiday gifts; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Pastor Datcher also gives generously of his time and |
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| 21 | 22 | | talents to assist the Paul Laurence Dunbar Young Men's Leadership |
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| 22 | 23 | | Academy, the mayor of Fort Worth's Faith Leader Cabinet, and the |
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| 23 | 24 | | YMCA Strategy Team for Southeast Fort Worth; in addition, he serves |
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| 24 | 25 | | as general secretary of the Texas State Missionary Baptist |
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| 25 | 26 | | Convention and as senior chaplain to the Dallas County Precinct 1 |
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| 26 | 27 | | constable's office; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Pastor Datcher has been recognized with the IMA |
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| 28 | 29 | | Young Preacher of the Year Award and the R. E. Price Community |
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| 29 | 30 | | Service Award; he holds a bachelor's degree in biblical studies |
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| 30 | 31 | | from Aspen Christian College and a master's degree from Aspen |
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| 31 | 32 | | Theological Seminary; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, With the passage of this birthday milestone, Bruce |
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| 33 | 34 | | Datcher may reflect with pride on his wide-ranging accomplishments |
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| 34 | 35 | | and on the many significant contributions he has made in behalf of |
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| 35 | 36 | | his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 37 | 38 | | Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Pastor Bruce |
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| 38 | 39 | | D. Datcher on his 60th birthday and extend to him sincere best |
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| 39 | 40 | | wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 41 | 42 | | prepared for Pastor Datcher as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 42 | 43 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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