ENROLLED

Regular Session, 2014

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98

BY REPRESENTATIVES NORTON, WESLEY , BURRELL, COX, DIXON, GUILLORY, HONORE, HUNTER, KATRINA JACKSON, JEFFERSON, TERRY LANDRY, LEGER, MORENO, PIERRE, AND SMITH

A RESOLUTION

To commend Bishop L. Lawrence Brandon upon the celebration of his affirmation to the

office of third presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship

International.

WHEREAS, Bishop L. Lawrence Brandon earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and an honorary doctorate degree in divinity from Baptist Christian

University in Shreveport, a master of theology from Guadalupe Baptist Theological

Seminary of San Antonio, Texas, an honorary doctorate in humanities from Louisiana

Baptist University, is a Harvard University summer leadership institute graduate, and is pursuing a master's degree in divinity from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, as senior and chief executive officer of several churches, Bishop

Brandon is the overseer of Praise Temple Full Gospel Baptist Cathedral in Shreveport under the auspices of Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr., presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist

Church Fellowship International; and

WHEREAS, Praise Temple Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1992 by

Rev. Brandon and six members, and the church has grown to more than nine hundred members, and Bishop Brandon has planted churches in Bossier City, Louisiana; Dallas,

Texas; Ruston, Louisiana; Alexandria, Louisiana; and in the Allendale Community of

Shreveport; and

WHEREAS, upon its affiliation with Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship

International, the name of the church was first changed to Praise Temple Full Gospel Baptist

Church and then to Praise Temple Full Gospel Baptist Cathedral after Bishop Brandon was appointed in 2001 as first assistant regional bishop; and

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WHEREAS, Bishop Brandon uses the gifts God has bestowed upon him to lecture and to write on topics to strengthen the people of God and encourage strong faith; he is the author of Holiness Is Still Right, Treasures in the Darkness, and Thirty Minutes In Prayer, among other books; and

WHEREAS, the emotional needs of God's people led Bishop Brandon to expand his ministry beyond the spiritual man to the natural man; he is a member of the American

Association of Christian Counselors, a certified pastoral addiction counselor for the National

Board of Addiction Examiners, a substance abuse counselor with United States Air Force and Louisiana State Board certifications, and a member of the Board of Directors for

Louisiana's "One Church, One Addict" program; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Brandon is a businessman in addition to his pastoral duties; he is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Northwest Louisiana Church Chamber of

Commerce, chairman of the Shreveport Airport Authority, and the chairman and chief executive officer of the Northwest Louisiana Community Development Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Bishop L. Lawrence Brandon will be affirmed to the office of third presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International on April 25,

2014, and it is appropriate to commend him upon this most solemn and joyous occasion.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the

Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Bishop L. Lawrence Brandon upon his affirmation to the office of third presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church

Fellowship International and does hereby extend best wishes and prayers to him as he takes on greater responsibilities in the kingdom of God.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Bishop L. Lawrence Brandon.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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