By: Ellis S.R. No. 318 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-3 recognize Dr. John Osteen for his achievements and his outstanding 1-4 service as pastor of Lakewood Church; and 1-5 WHEREAS, John Osteen became pastor of Lakewood Church in 1-6 1969; he spends several weeks each year on personal teaching 1-7 missions around the world; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Born in 1921 in Paris, Texas, Dr. Osteen grew 1-9 up without attending church regularly; in spite of his misspent 1-10 youth, when he was 18 years old he felt a yearning for spiritual 1-11 growth and began to attend church regularly; and 1-12 WHEREAS, A man of spiritual depth and devotion, John Osteen 1-13 preached his first sermon two months later; soon he was ordained 1-14 as a Southern Baptist minister and pastored churches in Texas and 1-15 California; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Over the next few years he ministered faithfully 1-17 to the needs of the people he served; he was a member of the 1-18 Texas Southern Baptist Executive Board and helped create tremendous 1-19 spiritual growth in Baytown's Central Baptist Church; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Inspirational and caring, he served for several 1-21 years as a substitute pastor to Baptist churches with vacant 1-22 pulpits; one of these churches was Hibbard Memorial Baptist Church 1-23 in Houston, where he was appointed full-time pastor in 1958; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Dr. Osteen holds a bachelor's degree from John Brown 2-2 University, a master's degree from Northern Baptist Seminary, a 2-3 doctor of letters degree from Indiana Christian University, and a 2-4 doctor of divinity degree from Oral Roberts University in 2-5 Tulsa, Oklahoma; and 2-6 WHEREAS, A passionate and eloquent spokesman on behalf of 2-7 causes close to his heart, Dr. Osteen and his wife, Dodie, discovered 2-8 that their baby daughter, Lisa, had cerebral palsy in 1958; Dr. Osteen 2-9 began to study and teach what the New Testament says about healing 2-10 and the Holy Spirit; he literally practiced what he preached with 2-11 Lisa, and she recovered completely; today she is a normal, healthy 2-12 young woman; and 2-13 WHEREAS, As a direct result of this extraordinary experience, 2-14 a new church was born in 1959, and he became its pastor; it was first 2-15 known as Lakewood Baptist Church; later it became Lakewood Church; and 2-16 WHEREAS, From 1961 to 1969, John Osteen carried his mission 2-17 and evangelistic work to such foreign countries as the Philippines, 2-18 India, and Mexico; in 1969 he returned to the pastorate of 2-19 Lakewood Church; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Dr. John Osteen has dedicated his time and his 2-21 energy unselfishly to the members of his church as well as countless 2-22 other souls; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-24 73rd Legislature, hereby commend Dr. John Osteen and applaud his 2-25 many noteworthy achievements in his illustrious career as a pastor; 3-1 and, be it further 3-2 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-3 him as a token of great respect from the Texas Senate. 3-4 _____________________________________ 3-5 President of the Senate 3-6 I hereby certify that the 3-7 above Resolution was adopted by 3-8 the Senate on February 24, 1993. 3-9 _____________________________________ 3-10 Secretary of the Senate 3-11 _____________________________________ 3-12 Member, Texas Senate