1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 610 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas proudly recognizes 1-4 Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., for his 26 years of loyal 1-5 service as Pastor of Greater Saint Stephen Full Gospel Baptist 1-6 Church Ministries in New Orleans, Louisiana; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Bishop Morton joined the church as Assistant Pastor 1-8 in 1972, when the church was known as the Greater Saint Stephen 1-9 Missionary Baptist Church and was under the pastorate of 1-10 Reverend Percy Simpson; he was installed as pastor in 1975; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Under Bishop Morton's ministry, the church grew 1-12 rapidly, and the congregation moved from a 600-seat sanctuary to 1-13 a 2,000-seat sanctuary in 1980; by 1985, after having averaged 33 1-14 revivals a year, Bishop Morton initiated a Pastoral Bible Class, 1-15 which is now being conducted twice a week with thousands being 1-16 blessed; he also instituted a weekly Deliverance Service; and 1-17 WHEREAS, In 1988, the congregation expanded to the 1-18 New Orleans East area, where a new sanctuary was built in 1992; 1-19 thus, Bishop Morton began officiating in two locations, and the 1-20 administrative offices were set up in the mid-city Corporate 1-21 Headquarter Building; Greater Saint Stephen Missionary Baptist 1-22 Church became Greater Saint Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church, 2-1 and the church became so popular that it now has more than 18,000 2-2 active members; and 2-3 WHEREAS, A dynamic preacher, Bishop Morton hosts a daily 2-4 radio broadcast, which is aired in several areas across the nation, 2-5 and a nationally televised program on Sunday mornings; he is also a 2-6 renowned singer and has recorded five albums with the Greater Saint 2-7 Stephen Mass Choir; he has released a nationally recognized solo 2-8 album, "Jesus, When Trouble Burdens Me Down"; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Bishop Morton was consecrated in 1993, and 2-10 following his consecration, he founded the Full Gospel Baptist 2-11 Church Fellowship; the first conference took place in 1994 and 2-12 was attended by over 30,000 people; the Fellowship sponsors a 2-13 Pastor and Church Ministry Conference and released its first album, 2-14 "Experience the Fullness" in 1995; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Under Bishop Morton's outstanding leadership, the 2-16 Greater Saint Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church Ministries has 2-17 provided enlightenment, hope, and support to citizens across our 2-18 country; and 2-19 WHEREAS, An accomplished scholar and theologian, Bishop Morton 2-20 has had a positive influence on the lives of many; his work in the 2-21 community has included serving on the board of One Church-One Addict 2-22 and writing for the nation's leading magazine, Gospel Today; he 2-23 is also president of the Greater Saint Stephen Full Gospel Baptist 2-24 College of Ministry and Theological Seminary; now, therefore, be it 3-1 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-2 77th Legislature, hereby join the members of the Greater Saint 3-3 Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church Ministries in commending 3-4 Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., for his fervent service to his 3-5 church, his fellowman, and his community; and, be it further 3-6 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-7 him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. 3-8 West 3-9 ______________________________________ 3-10 President of the Senate 3-11 I hereby certify that the above 3-12 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-13 on April 2, 2001. 3-14 ______________________________________ 3-15 Secretary of the Senate 3-16 ______________________________________ 3-17 Member, Texas Senate