By Hodge H.R. No. 752 75R12951 SAJ-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On September 9, 1997, members of Dallas's Pilgrim 1-2 Rest Baptist Church will celebrate 62 years of faithful service to 1-3 the spiritual needs of their community; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The church was organized in 1935 by the Reverend S. 1-5 G. Gooden, Sr., and the congregation first gathered for services at 1-6 a home rented by the church, where industrious members fashioned an 1-7 apple box into a pulpit and used a soda bottle filled with oil as a 1-8 torch; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Inspired leadership and an active membership have 1-10 helped the church to thrive through the years, and it outgrew its 1-11 edifice on three occasions as more individuals came to worship at 1-12 this renowned house of God; and 1-13 WHEREAS, In testament to the devotion of its clergy, Pilgrim 1-14 Rest Baptist Church has had only three pastors since its founding; 1-15 Reverend Gooden served the congregation for more than 20 years 1-16 before Reverend G. B. Prince, Jr., began his three-decade-long 1-17 tenure, which came to a close in 1989, and the church's current 1-18 minister, Reverend Curtis W. Wallace, has faithfully led the 1-19 congregation for the past seven years; and 1-20 WHEREAS, An ardent and dynamic servant of the Lord, Reverend 1-21 Wallace has developed and enhanced many church programs to better 1-22 meet the diverse needs of the community; in addition to expanding 1-23 the Pilgrim Rest Overcomers Program, he initiated several 1-24 ministries, organized scouting troops, and worked with the 2-1 community's Adopt-A-School Program to form a partnership with J. W. 2-2 Ray Elementary School; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Throughout its proud history, Pilgrim Rest Baptist 2-4 Church has provided outstanding spiritual leadership and moral 2-5 guidance to its congregation; the church stands today as a tribute 2-6 to the dedication and hard work of its members, past and present, 2-7 who have devoted their time, energy, and resources to ensure its 2-8 continued existence as a house of God; now, therefore, be it 2-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-10 Legislature hereby honor Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church on the 2-11 occasion of its 62nd anniversary and commend the Reverend Curtis W. 2-12 Wallace and his congregation for the many significant contributions 2-13 they have made to the betterment of their community; and, be it 2-14 further 2-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-16 prepared for Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church as an expression of high 2-17 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.