Texas SR 325: Recognizing Brentwood Baptist Church.

Bill Text

89(R) SR 325 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  

  

   

 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 325

   

        WHEREAS, Congregants from Brentwood Baptist Church in 

  

 Houston are gathering in Austin on March 25, 2025, to visit the 

  

 State Capitol; and

  

        WHEREAS, On June 17, 1965, Brentwood Baptist was founded by 

  

 12 members who held meetings at a local elementary school until a 

  

 parcel of land could be purchased; in its early years, the church 

  

 benefited from the leadership of pastors Dr. Donald Carroll and 

  

 Dr. Herbert Nash; the Reverend Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff was 

  

 elected pastor of the congregation in 1980, and he has since 

  

 guided it through more than four decades of substantial growth; 

  

 his wife, Doris Ernestine Gardner Ratliff, serves alongside him 

  

 as the first lady of the church; and

  

        WHEREAS, Under Reverend Ratliff's leadership, the church 

  

 saw the addition of several new buildings throughout the 1980s, 

  

 including a prayer chapel and a worship center, and in 1997, the 

  

 Brentwood Cottages were constructed to serve as transitional 

  

 housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS; by 2000, the 

  

 church's membership had grown from 500 to 12,000, and it had 

  

 acquired 105 additional acres of land; moreover, the Doris 

  

 Gardner Ratliff Center for Child Development was completed in 

  

 2000, and the 75,000-square-foot Joe Samuel Ratliff Lifelong 

  

 Learning Center was added in 2001; and

  

        WHEREAS, This venerable religious institution has played a 

  

 vital role in the community, providing its members with myriad 

  

 opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and outreach; 

  

 its 75 ministries include the Brentwood Community Foundation, 

  

 which works to improve the quality of life of the greater Houston

  

 community, and the church also has special programs for 

  

 congregants of all ages; and

  

        WHEREAS, Countless Houston residents have looked to 

  

 Brentwood Baptist Church for spiritual guidance through the 

  

 years, and it is a pleasure to join in welcoming the congregation 

  

 to the State Capitol; now, therefore, be it

  

        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th 

  

 Legislature, hereby honor Brentwood Baptist Church and extend to 

  

 its members sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable 

  

 stay in Austin; and, be it further

  

        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 

  

 prepared for the church as an expression of high regard from the 

  

 Texas Senate.

  

  

 Miles

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
 ________________________________ 

  

  
     President of the Senate

  

  
  

  

  
     I hereby certify that the 

  

  
 above Resolution was adopted by 

  

  
 the Senate on March 25, 2025.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
 ________________________________ 

  

  
     Secretary of the Senate

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
 ________________________________ 

  

  
      Member, Texas Senate