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 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