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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Over the past 40 years, Pastor Clarence O. Preston |
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| 8 | 9 | | of Beth Eden Baptist Church in Dallas has wholeheartedly dedicated |
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| 9 | 10 | | himself to his calling in the ministry; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, A native of Terrell, Clarence Preston earned his |
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| 11 | 12 | | bachelor's degree in sociology and religion from Jarvis Christian |
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| 12 | 13 | | College in Hawkins in 1993, and he went on to receive master's |
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| 13 | 14 | | degrees in Christian leadership from Criswell College in Dallas in |
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| 14 | 15 | | 1998 and in education administration from Texas A&M |
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| 15 | 16 | | University-Commerce in 2000; in the years that followed, he |
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| 16 | 17 | | furthered his religious education by obtaining a master of divinity |
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| 17 | 18 | | degree in pastoral counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, |
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| 18 | 19 | | Virginia, a doctor of ministry degree from Houston Graduate School |
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| 19 | 20 | | of Theology, and a Ph.D. in Biblical studies from Midwestern |
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| 20 | 21 | | Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Preston previously led the congregations of |
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| 22 | 23 | | Goodwill Baptist Church of Greenville and El Bethel Baptist Church |
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| 23 | 24 | | of Waxahachie, prior to assuming the pastorate of Beth Eden Baptist |
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| 24 | 25 | | Church in 2007; during his time as the church's pastor, he has |
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| 25 | 26 | | provided invaluable guidance to his congregation and the wider |
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| 26 | 27 | | community; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, In addition to meeting the needs of his church, |
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| 28 | 29 | | Pastor Preston has served his denomination as a member of the Oak |
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| 29 | 30 | | Cliff Baptist Ministers Union, the Southern Baptist Convention, and |
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| 30 | 31 | | the National Missionary Baptist Convention; he also holds |
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| 31 | 32 | | membership in the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and he |
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| 32 | 33 | | previously served as an assistant professor of religion at Jarvis |
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| 33 | 34 | | Christian University and as a trustee for Criswell College; he is |
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| 34 | 35 | | the author of two books, The Priesthood of All Believers: Uplifting |
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| 35 | 36 | | All Members and How to Make it Last Forever: Marriage from a |
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| 36 | 37 | | Christian Perspective; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Pastor Preston enjoys the love |
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| 38 | 39 | | and support of his wife, Charles Etta Dorsey Preston; the couple are |
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| 39 | 40 | | the parents of two children, Xavier and Charisma, and are further |
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| 40 | 41 | | blessed with a granddaughter, Imani; and |
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| 41 | 42 | | WHEREAS, Pastor Clarence O. Preston has inspired and uplifted |
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| 42 | 43 | | countless people throughout his exemplary career in the ministry, |
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| 43 | 44 | | and it is indeed a pleasure to join in recognizing this esteemed |
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| 44 | 45 | | clergyman for his notable achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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| 45 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 46 | 47 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Clarence O. Preston on his 40th |
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| 47 | 48 | | pastoral anniversary and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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| 48 | 49 | | continued success with his important work; and, be it further |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 50 | 51 | | prepared for Dr. Preston as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 51 | 52 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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