H.R. No. 732 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Reverend John William Bowie has provided 1-2 exceptional spiritual leadership and guidance to worshipers at True 1-3 Light Baptist Church in Houston, and April 1995 marks the second 1-4 anniversary of his installation as pastor there; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A graduate of Phillis Wheatley High School, this 1-6 inspirational individual pursued his higher education at Texas 1-7 Southern University, where he attained his bachelor's degree, and 1-8 at the University of Colorado, where he earned his master's degree 1-9 in education; he also undertook a rigorous course of religious 1-10 studies at Baptist Bible College and Rockmount Bible College; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Before answering his call to the ministry, Reverend 1-12 Bowie served the educational needs of his community as an exemplary 1-13 public school teacher and as a principal at the elementary and 1-14 secondary school levels; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Reverend Bowie pastored at Good Shepherd Baptist 1-16 Church in Denver, Colorado, and Calvary Baptist Church in Los 1-17 Angeles, California, before returning to True Light Baptist Church 1-18 in April 1993 to become the congregation's pastor; True Light holds 1-19 special significance to Reverend Bowie not only as the church of 1-20 his youth but as the house of worship where his father, Dr. William 1-21 Bowie, Jr., pastored for 54 years and is now the pastor emeritus; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, In addition to his duties as pastor, Reverend Bowie 1-24 also renders significant service to the religious community as 2-1 president of the Independent Heights Crusade for Christ and of 2-2 Metropolitan One Church, One Child of Texas, Inc., and as chairman 2-3 for political affairs of the Houston Metropolitan Baptist Ministers 2-4 Conference; and 2-5 WHEREAS, He has been consistently supported in his calling by 2-6 his devoted wife, Thelma Louise Bowie, by his daughter and 2-7 son-in-law, Carmen and George Bandy, and by his son, John Bowie II; 2-8 and 2-9 WHEREAS, Reverend Bowie's dynamic preaching and unshakable 2-10 faith have been a tremendous source of inspiration and comfort to 2-11 the members of True Light Baptist Church, and his notable 2-12 achievements in this regard are truly worthy of special legislative 2-13 recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-15 Legislature hereby congratulate the Reverend John William Bowie for 2-16 his outstanding spiritual leadership on his second pastoral 2-17 anniversary at True Light Baptist Church and extend sincere best 2-18 wishes to him for continued success in the future; and, be it 2-19 further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for Reverend Bowie as an expression of high regard by the 2-22 Texas House of Representatives.