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