TITLE: Honoring the Reverend Dr. Ervin D. Seamster Jr. for his service as Pastor of the Day for the House of Representatives on April 29, 2015.

SUMMARY: Honoring the Reverend Dr. Ervin D. Seamster Jr. for his service as Pastor of the Day for the House of Representatives on April 29, 2015.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Dr. Ervin D. Seamster Jr., senior pastor at Light of the World Church of Christ in Dallas, is serving as Pastor of the Day for the Texas House of Representatives on April 29, 2015; and WHEREAS, Ervin Seamster earned a bachelor's degree from Southwestern Christian College and a master of divinity degree from the Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology; he later enrolled at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he completed his doctor of ministry degree; and WHEREAS, Accepting the call to ministry in 1985, Dr. Seamster preached his first sermon the following year; he went on to serve as minister of the Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ in Dallas, and in 1999, he founded the Light of the World Church of Christ; over the course of his tenure as senior pastor, he has overseen a dramatic growth of the congregation and the development of nearly 25 ministries; and WHEREAS, Dr. Seamster has further distinguished himself through his notable career in academia; he joined the faculty of Abilene Christian University in 1999 and taught courses in Old Testament theology and urban ministry in the 21st century for several years; moreover, he earned the distinction of becoming the first African American to be appointed as special assistant to the school's president, and in that position, he recruited gifted scholars of color for the doctoral fellows program for minority faculty members; in addition, he is a cofounder of Northwest Preparatory School in Houston, and he has served that institution as board president and as president emeritus; he has also given generously of his time and talents in behalf of Southwestern Christian College, raising funds for the school through the Fab Five Revival and uniting ministries across the nation through the One in Christ Conference; and WHEREAS, Dr. Ervin Seamster has inspired many with his message of faith, hope, and fellowship, and we are indeed fortunate to have him with us today; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby honor Dr. Ervin D. Seamster Jr. for his service as Pastor of the Day and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success with his important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Seamster as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Johnson Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2355 was adopted by the House on April 29, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House