H*4720 Resolution, By Anderson
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO WELCOME REVEREND DR. SAMUEL C. TOLBERT, JR., AND HIS
 MESSAGE TO SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE OCCASION OF THE JERUSALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST
 AND EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S PRAISE AND PRAYER WEEKEND.

   01/25/18  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 63)

TO WELCOME REVEREND DR. SAMUEL C. TOLBERT, JR., AND HIS MESSAGE TO SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE OCCASION OF THE JERUSALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST AND EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S PRAISE AND PRAYER WEEKEND.

Whereas, on the weekend of January 26, 2018, Reverend Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr., will bring his message to South Carolina for the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist and Educational Association's Praise and Prayer Weekend. He is welcomed by moderator, Reverend Dr. D. L. Grant; vice moderator, Reverend Dr. Eddie Gamble; clerk, Dr. Maudest Rhue-Scott; Executive Board Chairman, Reverend Alphonso Scott; and Representative Anderson and his wife Mrs. Anderson; and

Whereas, Reverend Tolbert was born on August 1, 1958, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 1976, he graduated from Washington High School, and then attended McNeese State University and Delta School of Business in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He graduated from the historically black Bishop College, where he earned a bachelor's of art in religion and philosophy with a minor in speech education. He has also earned a Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry from Union University. Furthermore, he has received Honorary Doctorates from Union Baptist Church and Theological Seminary, Christian Bible College, and Temple Bible College; and

Whereas, he served as a commissioner for the Lake Charles Housing Authority, and for twelve years, he served as a representative of District "A" on the Lake Charles City Council, as well as serving as a member of the Board of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation. Currently, Reverend Tolbert serves on the Board of Supervisors for the Southern University System, the Board of Trustees of Florida Memorial University, Morehouse School of Religion, and Simmons College of Kentucky; and

Whereas, Reverend Tolbert's accomplishments reflect his dedication to his faith, education, and service. On June 25, 2014, in a landslide victory, he was elected the fifteenth President of the National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc., (NBCA). NBCA has over three million five hundred thousand members worldwide, and one of Reverend Tolbert's first missions was to ensure NBCA members that all partnerships and programs under his administration would "seek to serve congregations"; and

Whereas, additionally, Reverend Tolbert serves as the President of the Greater St. Mary Community Development Foundation, the President and CEO of the Strategic Faith Leadership Ministries, the President Emeritus of the Louisiana Home & Foreign Missions Baptist State Convention, a member of Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, and the President of North American Baptist Fellowship, a division of the Baptist World Alliance. Some of the former positions Reverend Tolbert has held include President of the Louisiana Inter-Church Conference, 1st Vice President and General Secretary of the NBCA, and member of the National Board of the NAACP; and

Whereas, a devout man of faith, Reverend Tolbert has dedicated his life to religious service. He is the Pastor of the church in which he grew up, Greater Saint Mary Missionary Baptist Church in Lake Charles. He has been serving as Pastor there for more than thirty years; and

Whereas, Reverend Tolbert has been married to the love of his life Matilda Edwards Tolbert for over thirty years. They are the proud parents of two cherished daughters, Candace Latrice and Kayla Monique. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, welcome Reverend Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr., and his message to South Carolina for the occasion of the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist and Educational Association's Praise and Prayer Weekend.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr.