By:  Moncrief                                           S.R. No. 76

 1-1     By:  Moncrief                                           S.R. No. 76

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to send

 1-4     greetings to Dr. Raymond W. Barber, pastor of Worth Baptist Church,

 1-5     who is retiring on April 6, 1997, after 35 years of outstanding

 1-6     service to his congregation; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, The Worth Baptist Church has benefitted greatly from

 1-8     the inspired leadership of Dr. Barber; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Raymond W. Barber was the seventh child born to

1-10     Robert Jones Barber and Maggie Stone Barber; Dr. Barber's father

1-11     founded and pastored the Baptist Tabernacle in Danville, Virginia,

1-12     until he died in November, 1961; and

1-13           WHEREAS, Heeding the call of the Lord, Raymond preached his

1-14     first sermon at the age of 12; at 18, he left home to attend the

1-15     Bible Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; and

1-16           WHEREAS, To prepare for the pastorate, Raymond worked as an

1-17     associate pastor with his father at the Baptist Tabernacle for

1-18     four years, for two years as an associate pastor at Berea Baptist

1-19     Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and in 1962, Worth Baptist Church

1-20     called him to be its pastor; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Since he began as pastor at Worth Baptist Church,

1-22     Dr. Barber has guided the congregation through three successful

1-23     building programs; the current estimated worth of the land and

 2-1     buildings of the church is over $3 million, and the membership

 2-2     of Worth Baptist Church has grown to 2,000; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Inspirational and caring, this pastor has

 2-4     unselfishly dedicated his time and energy to the members of his

 2-5     church and his community; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, It is indeed appropriate that the Texas Senate

 2-7     recognize this outstanding pastor on the auspicious occasion of

 2-8     his retirement in April, 1997; now, therefore, be it

 2-9           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-10     75th Legislature, hereby congratulate Dr. Raymond W. Barber on

2-11     his successful career and his retirement and extend best wishes

2-12     for many happy retirement years to come; and, be it

2-13     further

2-14           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

2-15     Dr. Barber as an expression of the high regard and esteem of

2-16     the Texas Senate.

2-17                                 ______________________________________

2-18                                         President of the Senate

2-19                                      I hereby certify that the above

2-20                                 Resolution was adopted by the Senate

2-21                                 on January 28, 1997.

2-22                                 ______________________________________

2-23                                         Secretary of the Senate

2-24                                 ______________________________________

2-25                                          Member, Texas Senate