By Chisum H.C.R. No. 135 74R8611 SAJ-F CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, On April 30, 1995, the Reverend Neal Thomas Jones, 1-2 Sr., will retire as pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls 1-3 Church, Virginia, drawing to a close 46 years of faithful service 1-4 to the spiritual needs of others; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The son of Thomas R. and Lucille Yann Jones, Pastor 1-6 Jones was born May 3, 1926, in Beuchel, Kentucky; he was graduated 1-7 from Texas Christian University before going on to earn a divinity 1-8 degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1952; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Well regarded by his colleagues throughout the 1-10 ministry, he later was bestowed with honorary degrees from 1-11 Bluefield Baptist College and the University of Richmond and most 1-12 recently was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters by 1-13 Baptist College and Seminary of Washington; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Pastor Jones was ordained to the ministry by First 1-15 Baptist Church in Dallas in 1949 and began his pastorage at the 1-16 community's Cockrell Hill Baptist Church in the following year; and 1-17 WHEREAS, He went on to offer spiritual guidance at churches 1-18 in Greenville and Vernon and at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in 1-19 Dallas before settling in Falls Church, Virginia, where he has 1-20 ministered to the flock at Columbia Baptist Church since 1969; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Reverend Jones has continually worked for the 1-22 benefit of the religious community through his outstanding service 1-23 to his community and denomination; early in his career, he served 1-24 on the State Missions Commission in Texas and was a trustee at 2-1 Howard Payne College in Brownwood, and recently he offered wise and 2-2 thoughtful guidance as president of the Virginia Baptist General 2-3 Board and as chairman of the Virginia Baptist Denominational 2-4 Affairs Committee; and 2-5 WHEREAS, He also has sought to spread his Christian ministry 2-6 abroad; after preaching in Japan as part of the Japanese New Life 2-7 Movement, he traveled throughout Eastern and Southern Africa with 2-8 the Southern Baptist Convention's Foreign Mission Board and visited 2-9 Russia with the Baptist World Alliance; and 2-10 WHEREAS, A man of boundless devotion and compassion, he 2-11 currently serves with distinction as an esteemed member of the 2-12 Prison Fellowship Executive Board and the Board of Regents at 2-13 Baylor University; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Reverend Jones also is a devoted family member who 2-15 has been married to Betty Adams Jones since 1949; the loving couple 2-16 are the proud parents of four children, all of whom are graduates 2-17 of Baylor University: Neal Thomas Jones, Jr., Betsy Jones 2-18 McElmurray, Jeffrey David Jones, and Caroline Adams Jones; and 2-19 WHEREAS, For nearly half a century, Pastor Jones's 2-20 outstanding spiritual leadership, understanding guidance, and 2-21 strong faith have been a tremendous source of inspiration to many 2-22 people in his church and community, and he is most worthy of 2-23 special recognition on the occasion of his retirement from the 2-24 active ministry; now, therefore, be it 2-25 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-26 hereby commend Pastor Neal Thomas Jones, Sr., on his exemplary 2-27 service as a minister and extend to him warmest best wishes for a 3-1 happy and fulfilling retirement; and, be it further 3-2 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-3 prepared for Pastor Jones as an expression of high regard by the 3-4 Legislature of the State of Texas.