By:  Shelley                                     S.R. No. 320
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to
    1-3  recognize Memorial Baptist Church of Baytown, Texas, on the
    1-4  grand occasion of its 75th anniversary which was celebrated
    1-5  the weekend of February 20, 1993; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, First organized as Goose Creek First
    1-7  Baptist Church, the church was founded in February of 1918
    1-8  by a cowboy-turned-preacher, the Reverend J. W. Anderson; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, John Wesley Anderson was born in 1855, began
   1-10  riding the range and working as a cowboy at the age of 10, and
   1-11  was ordained as a preacher in 1879; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, He arrived in Goose Creek in 1918, selling a
   1-13  book he had authored, From the Plains to the Pulpit; after
   1-14  preaching on the streets and in schools and homes, he organized
   1-15  a church membership of 20 and officially became the pastor of
   1-16  Goose Creek Baptist Church, alternately referred to as the
   1-17  First Church at Goose Creek; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, The first church building was established
   1-19  July 15, 1918, at the corner of Texas Avenue and Second
   1-20  Street; after the death of the Reverend Anderson in 1923,
   1-21  the church was pastored by Robert M. "Bob" Miller who married
   1-22  the Reverend Anderson's daughter, Sallie Burince Anderson; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, The church was later located at Pearce and Jones
    2-1  where it was known as Memorial Baptist Church; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, Today, Memorial Baptist Church is located at
    2-3  West Sterling and Felton; since 1990, it has been pastored by
    2-4  the Reverend Steve James; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Over the years, Memorial Baptist Church has
    2-6  ministered faithfully to the needs of innumerable Christians;
    2-7  and
    2-8        WHEREAS, Due to the guidance and wise stewardship of its
    2-9  pastors, and the outstanding leadership of its current pastor,
   2-10  the Reverend James, the church has continued to grow and to
   2-11  undertake many worthy projects within the community; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Throughout its history, Memorial Baptist Church
   2-13  has been an invaluable source of strength for church members
   2-14  during their hardships and in times of bereavement; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, The celebration of its 75th anniversary is
   2-16  an expression of the church's enduring commitment to its holy
   2-17  mission and its dedication to tradition and unity among Christians;
   2-18  now, therefore, be it
   2-19        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-20  73rd Legislature, hereby extend best wishes to the clergy and
   2-21  members of Memorial Baptist Church on the jubilant occasion of
   2-22  its 75th anniversary; and, be it further
   2-23        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
   2-24  the church as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
   2-25                                 _____________________________________
    3-1                                        President of the Senate
    3-2                                      I hereby certify that the
    3-3                                 above Resolution was adopted by
    3-4                                 the Senate on February 25, 1993.
    3-5                                 _____________________________________
    3-6                                        Secretary of the Senate
    3-7                                 _____________________________________
    3-8                                         Member, Texas Senate