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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Congregants from Brentwood Baptist Church in |
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Houston are gathering in Austin on March 25, 2025, to visit the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, On June 17, 1965, Brentwood Baptist was founded by |
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12 members who held meetings at a local elementary school until a |
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parcel of land could be purchased; in its early years, the church |
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benefited from the leadership of pastors Dr. Donald Carroll and |
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Dr. Herbert Nash; the Reverend Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff was elected |
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pastor of the congregation in 1980, and he has since guided it |
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through more than four decades of substantial growth; his wife, |
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Doris Ernestine Gardner Ratliff, serves alongside him as the first |
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lady of the church; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Reverend Ratliff's leadership, the church saw |
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the addition of several new buildings throughout the 1980s, |
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including a prayer chapel and a worship center, and in 1997, the |
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Brentwood Cottages were constructed to serve as transitional |
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housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS; by 2000, the church's |
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membership had grown from 500 to 12,000, and it had acquired 105 |
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additional acres of land; moreover, the Doris Gardner Ratliff |
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Center for Child Development was completed in 2000, and the |
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75,000-square-foot Joe Samuel Ratliff Lifelong Learning Center was |
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added in 2001; and |
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WHEREAS, This venerable religious institution has played a |
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vital role in the community, providing its members with myriad |
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opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and outreach; its |
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75 ministries include the Brentwood Community Foundation, which |
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works to improve the quality of life of the greater Houston |
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community, and the church also has special programs for congregants |
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of all ages; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless Houston residents have looked to |
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Brentwood Baptist Church for spiritual guidance through the years, |
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and it is a pleasure to join in welcoming the congregation to the |
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State Capitol; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Brentwood Baptist Church and extend to its |
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members sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in |
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Austin; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Allen |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 646 was adopted by the House on April |
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9, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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