H.R. No. 45 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Victor Alvarez is retiring as pastor of Iglesia Bautista Fundamental in Brownsville on October 10, 2021, drawing to a close more than four decades of service to the congregation; and WHEREAS, Pastor Alvarez moved to Brownsville with his family when he was 10 days old, and he found his faith at the age of 22 in Corpus Christi; he received his education at Salt Lake Bible College, where he earned three degrees, including a doctorate in theology; he began his career in Corpus Christi, where he was assistant pastor at Iglesia Bautista El Cordero de Dios for five years; and WHEREAS, In 1980, Pastor Alvarez returned to Brownsville and established Iglesia Bautista Fundamental in the Cameron Park colonia; the congregation began meeting under a tree, and over time, it moved into a 26,000-square-foot facility on two acres of land; Pastor Alvarez also started the Christian Fundamental Academy to educate children from kindergarten through the 12th grade, and he raised money for scholarships, empowering many students to go on to college and to productive professional careers; in addition, he created a bus ministry, bringing more than 200 youth to Sunday school every week; and WHEREAS, Pastor Alvarez has further contributed to the community through his work with the area's planning and zoning committee, the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee, the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, and United for the Progress of Cameron Park, as well as through his participation in self-help programs and voter registration drives; and WHEREAS, Victor Alvarez has distinguished himself as an esteemed spiritual leader, a champion for Cameron Park, and a powerful force for change in the community, and he may indeed take pride in his outstanding record of service as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Pastor Victor Alvarez on his retirement from Iglesia Bautista Fundamental and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Pastor Alvarez as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Dominguez ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 45 was adopted by the House on October 14, 2021, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House