R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, This year, members of Good Hope Missionary Baptist

 1-2     Church in Houston will celebrate 125 years of faithful service to

 1-3     the spiritual needs of their community, and this remarkable

 1-4     milestone is indeed worthy of special praise and recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The church was organized in 1872, with the Reverend

 1-6     Samuel Grantham as its first pastor; inspired leadership and an

 1-7     active membership have helped the church to flourish through the

 1-8     years, and it has long served as a moral beacon in the Houston

 1-9     community; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church has benefited

1-11     greatly from the dedicated service of its ministers; the Reverend

1-12     Albert Anderson Lucas faithfully led the congregation for nearly 30

1-13     years before the Reverend Crawford W. Kimble took the helm of the

1-14     church for the next three decades; and

1-15           WHEREAS, The church's current minister, the Reverend D. Z.

1-16     Cofield, has maintained his predecessors' remarkable commitment,

1-17     and since beginning his pastorate in 1994 he has been active in

1-18     many new programs that emphasize community outreach; one such

1-19     endeavor, the Hope for Families nonprofit corporation, is

1-20     renovating church property to establish the Barbara Jordan Hope

1-21     Center; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Throughout its proud history, Good Hope Missionary

1-23     Baptist Church has provided outstanding spiritual leadership and

1-24     moral guidance to its congregation, and the church stands today as

 2-1     a tribute to the dedication and hard work of its members, past and

 2-2     present, who have devoted their time, energy, and resources to

 2-3     ensure its continued existence as a house of God; now, therefore,

 2-4     be it

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-6     Legislature hereby honor Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church on the

 2-7     occasion of its 125th anniversary and commend the Reverend D. Z.

 2-8     Cofield and his congregation for the many significant contributions

 2-9     they have made to their community; and, be it further

2-10           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-11     prepared for Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church as an expression

2-12     of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                     Coleman

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 354 was adopted by the House on April

         11, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House