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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of El Paso and beyond are mourning the |
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passing of Rochelle Nieman, the co-founder and co-pastor of |
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Abundant Living Faith Center, on December 30, 2012, at the age of |
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61; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally from Raton, New Mexico, Rochelle Nieman |
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moved to El Paso in 1968 to study at The University of Texas; there |
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she met her future husband, Charles Nieman, with whom she would go |
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on to share 42 years; and |
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WHEREAS, The couple began a small, home-based Bible study in |
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1977 that soon began meeting in a railroad union hall to accommodate |
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growth; within a few years, the church was well on its way to |
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becoming the major ministry it is today; with some 25,000 members, |
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Abundant Living Faith Center is considered El Paso's first |
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mega-church; and |
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WHEREAS, Pastor Nieman held an equal leadership role in the |
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church with her husband at a time when that was uncommon for women, |
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and she was a trailblazer for countless women of faith over the |
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course of her ministry; among her many responsibilities, she |
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directed the church administration, led the women's ministry, and |
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regularly taught the congregation during its weekly service; |
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moreover, she founded and served as superintendent of Faith |
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Christian Academy; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed clergywoman also oversaw numerous |
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ALFC outreach efforts, including two weekly food pantries, annual |
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back-to-school and holiday toy giveaways, basic training classes, |
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and a disaster assistance program, and with her husband, she taught |
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at leadership conferences throughout the United States and around |
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the globe; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for her optimism and zest for life, Pastor |
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Nieman strived to give her all in each of her many roles; she was the |
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devoted mother of two children, Shannon and Jared, and she took |
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great joy in welcoming two grandchildren, Caleb and Emery, into her |
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family; and |
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WHEREAS, Rochelle Nieman loved the challenges and |
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opportunities of guiding a large church and carrying its message to |
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the world, and she leaves behind a legacy that will be forever |
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treasured by all those whose lives she touched; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Rochelle Nieman and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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husband, Pastor Charles Nieman; to her children and their spouses, |
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Shannon Nieman Elias and Matthew Elias and Jared and Karla Nieman; |
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to her grandchildren, Caleb Nieman and Emery Rochelle Nieman Elias; |
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and to her other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Pastor |
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Rochelle Nieman. |