H.R. No. 120
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The members of Greater Saint Mark Ministries in Fort
  Worth joined together on September 8, 2023, to honor Bishop
  Dr. Mark D. Kirkland for his five decades in the ministry; and
         WHEREAS, A spiritual leader from a young age, Dr. Kirkland
  was ordained as a minister during his junior year of high school; he
  became the third senior pastor of Greater Saint Mark Missionary
  Baptist Church in February 1997, and under his able leadership, the
  church became a nondenominational body known as Greater Saint Mark
  Ministries; in 2006, he cofounded Rehoboth Fellowship
  International, and he currently serves that organization as chief
  presiding prelate; in addition, he received his Episcopal
  ordination and consecration as a bishop on September 29, 2007; over
  the years, he has participated in several missions to provide
  supplies and financial aid to families and communities in African
  countries; and
         WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland previously attended Southern Bible
  Institute and Saint Leo College in Georgia; in 2010, he obtained a
  doctoral degree in theology from Trinity International Seminary in
  Dallas, where he also served as president for four years; he was
  presented with an honorary doctor of divinity from Grace
  International Seminary in Dallas; and
         WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty, Dr. Kirkland
  served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1983 to 2004; he has been
  involved in a number of boards and civic organizations, including
  the Genesis Way Foundation, the Young Ministers Coalition of
  Greater Atlanta, the Fireball Express, Umoja, and the Dunbar Young
  Men's Leadership Academy Site Base Management Team; moreover, he
  has served as a chaplain for the Texas Department of Corrections,
  and he has contributed to a wide range of community service
  projects, events, and relief efforts; and
         WHEREAS, Bishop Dr. Mark Kirkland has long set an inspiring
  example of faith in action, and the members of his congregation have
  greatly benefited from his wise counsel and spiritual guidance;
  now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
  Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby congratulate Bishop
  Dr. Mark D. Kirkland on his 50th anniversary in the ministry and
  extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Dr. Kirkland as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.
 
  Collier
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 120 was adopted by the House on
  December 5, 2023, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House