SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 325
WHEREAS, Congregants from Brentwood Baptist Church in
Houston are gathering in Austin on March 25, 2025, to visit the
State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, On June 17, 1965, Brentwood Baptist was founded by
12 members who held meetings at a local elementary school until a
parcel of land could be purchased; in its early years, the church
benefited from the leadership of pastors Dr. Donald Carroll and
Dr. Herbert Nash; the Reverend Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff was
elected pastor of the congregation in 1980, and he has since
guided it through more than four decades of substantial growth;
his wife, Doris Ernestine Gardner Ratliff, serves alongside him
as the first lady of the church; and
WHEREAS, Under Reverend Ratliff's leadership, the church
saw the addition of several new buildings throughout the 1980s,
including a prayer chapel and a worship center, and in 1997, the
Brentwood Cottages were constructed to serve as transitional
housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS; by 2000, the
church's membership had grown from 500 to 12,000, and it had
acquired 105 additional acres of land; moreover, the Doris
Gardner Ratliff Center for Child Development was completed in
2000, and the 75,000-square-foot Joe Samuel Ratliff Lifelong
Learning Center was added in 2001; and
WHEREAS, This venerable religious institution has played a
vital role in the community, providing its members with myriad
opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and outreach;
its 75 ministries include the Brentwood Community Foundation,
which works to improve the quality of life of the greater Houston
community, and the church also has special programs for
congregants of all ages; and
WHEREAS, Countless Houston residents have looked to
Brentwood Baptist Church for spiritual guidance through the
years, and it is a pleasure to join in welcoming the congregation
to the State Capitol; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
Legislature, hereby honor Brentwood Baptist Church and extend to
its members sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable
stay in Austin; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Miles
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 25, 2025.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate