By:  West                                              H.R. No. 222
       73R3642 PFG-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is privileged to
    1-2  honor the Temple Baptist Church of Odessa on the joyful occasion of
    1-3  the congregation's 50th anniversary in February 1993; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Founded on the first Sunday in February of 1943, the
    1-5  congregation consisted originally of 20 members led by Pastor
    1-6  Marvin Clark; after worshiping for a brief period in a converted
    1-7  liquor store that served as the church's first structure, the
    1-8  fledgling church soon relocated to its familiar location on the
    1-9  corner of 10th and Texas, where it remains to this day; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, On September 12, 1947, senior pastor Curtis Thorpe
   1-11  joined the congregation and quickly ushered in an energetic period
   1-12  of rapid growth and development, increasing church membership
   1-13  through a tireless and highly successful door-to-door crusade;
   1-14  today, an average of 1,750 members attend Temple Baptist Church
   1-15  services each Sunday as the church continues to build on Reverend
   1-16  Thorpe's enduring legacy of dynamic Christian ministry; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Currently in his 46th year with the church, Reverend
   1-18  Thorpe continues his long and respected affiliation with Temple
   1-19  Baptist Church in his role as pastor emeritus; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Today, the congregation thrives under the inspired
   1-21  and steady guidance of Reverend Jerry Thorpe, the son of Reverend
   1-22  Curtis Thorpe; a longtime member of the congregation, Reverend
   1-23  Jerry Thorpe was ordained in Temple Baptist Church in 1957 and
   1-24  assumed the duties of senior pastor in 1984; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, In the five eventful decades since its founding, the
    2-2  church has experienced phenomenal growth and now employs 12
    2-3  full-time ministers; constructed in 1960 to support the church's
    2-4  expanding ministries, the current auditorium was remodeled in 1986
    2-5  and seating capacity increased to 1,500 to accommodate the growing
    2-6  membership; and
    2-7        WHEREAS, Actively committed to the church's outreach mission,
    2-8  church members especially look forward to the annual Friends Day
    2-9  celebration that is held on the last Sunday of October and has
   2-10  become increasingly popular since its inception 20 years ago; in
   2-11  1988, the celebration was attended by an unprecedented 4,435
   2-12  faithful; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, A cornerstone of the Odessa community for half a
   2-14  century, the Temple Baptist Church plays a vital role in the
   2-15  spiritual life of the city's residents; a tribute to the abiding
   2-16  faith of its numerous members, this devout congregation has served
   2-17  as a source of lasting strength and hope to generations of Texans
   2-18  and indeed merits special legislative recognition on the occasion
   2-19  of its 50th anniversary; now, therefore, be it
   2-20        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-21  Legislature hereby congratulate the Temple Baptist Church of Odessa
   2-22  on its 50th anniversary and extend to its members best wishes for
   2-23  continued success; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-25  prepared for the Temple Baptist Church as an expression of highest
   2-26  regard by the Texas House of Representatives.