TITLE: In memory of Pastor Rochelle Nieman of Abundant Living Faith Center in El Paso.

SUMMARY: In memory of Pastor Rochelle Nieman of Abundant Living Faith Center in El Paso.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Residents of El Paso and beyond are mourning the passing of Rochelle Nieman, the co-founder and co-pastor of Abundant Living Faith Center, on December 30, 2012, at the age of 61; and WHEREAS, Originally from Raton, New Mexico, Rochelle Nieman moved to El Paso in 1968 to study at The University of Texas; there she met her future husband, Charles Nieman, with whom she would go on to share 42 years; and WHEREAS, The couple began a small, home-based Bible study in 1977 that soon began meeting in a railroad union hall to accommodate growth; within a few years, the church was well on its way to becoming the major ministry it is today; with some 25,000 members, Abundant Living Faith Center is considered El Paso's first mega-church; and WHEREAS, Pastor Nieman held an equal leadership role in the church with her husband at a time when that was uncommon for women, and she was a trailblazer for countless women of faith over the course of her ministry; among her many responsibilities, she directed the church administration, led the women's ministry, and regularly taught the congregation during its weekly service; moreover, she founded and served as superintendent of Faith Christian Academy; and WHEREAS, This esteemed clergywoman also oversaw numerous ALFC outreach efforts, including two weekly food pantries, annual back-to-school and holiday toy giveaways, basic training classes, and a disaster assistance program, and with her husband, she taught at leadership conferences throughout the United States and around the globe; and WHEREAS, Known for her optimism and zest for life, Pastor Nieman strived to give her all in each of her many roles; she was the devoted mother of two children, Shannon and Jared, and she took great joy in welcoming two grandchildren, Caleb and Emery, into her family; and WHEREAS, Rochelle Nieman loved the challenges and opportunities of guiding a large church and carrying its message to the world, and she leaves behind a legacy that will be forever treasured by all those whose lives she touched; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Rochelle Nieman and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her husband, Pastor Charles Nieman; to her children and their spouses, Shannon Nieman Elias and Matthew Elias and Jared and Karla Nieman; to her grandchildren, Caleb Nieman and Emery Rochelle Nieman Elias; and to her other relatives and many friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Pastor Rochelle Nieman. Moody Pickett Marquez N. Gonzalez of El Paso M. Gonzalez of El Paso Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 410 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 28, 2013. Chief Clerk of the House