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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 325
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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 |
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elected pastor of the congregation in 1980, and he has since |
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guided it through more than four decades of substantial growth; |
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his wife, Doris Ernestine Gardner Ratliff, serves alongside him |
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as the first lady of the church; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Reverend Ratliff's leadership, the church |
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saw 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 |
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church's membership had grown from 500 to 12,000, and it had |
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acquired 105 additional acres of land; moreover, the Doris |
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Gardner Ratliff Center for Child Development was completed in |
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2000, and the 75,000-square-foot Joe Samuel Ratliff Lifelong |
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Learning Center was 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; |
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its 75 ministries include the Brentwood Community Foundation, |
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which works to improve the quality of life of the greater Houston |
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community, and the church also has special programs for |
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congregants 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 |
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years, and it is a pleasure to join in welcoming the congregation |
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to the State Capitol; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, hereby honor Brentwood Baptist Church and extend to |
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its members sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable |
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stay in 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 from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Miles |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 25, 2025. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |