79S20334 MMS-D



By:  Brown of Kaufman                                             H.R. No. 103







R E S O L U T I O N

	WHEREAS, The Church of the Living God, P.G.T., in Athens 

celebrated 100 years of faithful witness and service during its 

centennial commemoration on July 22-24, 2005; and

	WHEREAS, The church traces its roots to services that W. H. 

Richardson, an evangelist, began holding in November 1905; 

congregants initially met under a brush arbor at 511 Chase Street, 

but by the end of 1906 they had erected a small frame sanctuary; 

that first building was replaced in 1917 by a larger structure, 

which was itself later enlarged and remodeled; and

	WHEREAS, In 1985 the congregation moved into its present 

spacious facility on Highway 175 East, where the church now owns 

approximately 10 acres; a family-youth center was completed in 

2003, providing a full-size gym, a double conference room, five 

classrooms, a kitchen, and office space; and

	WHEREAS, Today the church membership stands at about 200, 

while a staff of 13 ministers oversees areas ranging from prayer, 

youth, and music to prison outreach; programs offered by the church 

include Bible classes, women's groups, four choirs, and a 

twice-a-month children's church; and

	WHEREAS, Eldress Mary Henderson, a native of Athens, serves 

as senior pastor of the congregation; after balancing involvement 

in the church with her career at First National Bank for a number of 

years, she resigned from the bank a decade ago in order to fully 

respond to her calling; and

	WHEREAS, Throughout the history of this venerable church, 

succeeding generations have continued to honor and build on the 

contributions of members who have gone before; sustained by a 

common purpose, warm fellowship, and inspired teaching, the 

congregants of the Church of the Living God have remained steadfast 

in their care for one another and their ministry to the world around 

them, and it is a pleasure to recognize the enduring commitment of 

this community of faith; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 

Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby honor the Church of the 

Living God, P.G.T., in Athens on the joyful occasion of its 

centennial and that all those associated with this church be 

extended sincere best wishes as they embark on their second hundred 

years of praise and worship; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

prepared for the Church of the Living God as an expression of high 

esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.