093_HR0155 LRB093 11356 HSS 13513 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives wish 3 to congratulate Reverend Otto T. "Butch" Houston, III as he 4 is elevated to the office of Bishop in the 2nd District of 5 the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc. on 6 Sunday, April 27, 2003; and 7 WHEREAS, Reverend Houston was elected Pastor of the First 8 Church of Deliverance on March 17, 1996; he was installed as 9 Pastor on May 28, 1996; and 10 WHEREAS, During his seven year tenure as Pastor of First 11 Church of Deliverance, Reverend Houston's biggest 12 accomplishment has been bringing the church completely out of 13 debt; in addition, he led the complete renovation of property 14 which was donated to the church; he brought about major 15 improvements on several facilities, the installation of 16 security gates, and new lighting and pavement; he directed 17 the efforts to completely renovate the community center, 18 including the day care center, the dining room, and the third 19 floor; and 20 WHEREAS, Reverend Houston has initiated many new programs 21 at First Church of Deliverance including The Armor Bearers, 22 the Rev. Otto T. Houston Visionary Group, the Travel 23 Committee, the Shadow Program, the Power Hour, the Spiritual 24 Get-A-Way for the choir's anniversary, and ministries for 25 HIV/substance abuse as well as marriage (solidarity) and 26 singles; and 27 WHEREAS, Reverend Houston has presided over several 28 Founder's Day dinners and services; he initiated All in One 29 which is a sit down congregational communion, Million Dollar 30 Sundays for special building fund donations, and a Men's Day 31 Celebration every fifth Sunday; and he oversaw the 32 installation of the state of the art OttoMax Theater on the -2- LRB093 11356 HSS 13513 r 1 third floor of the community center; therefore, be it 2 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 3 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 4 we congratulate Reverend Otto T. "Butch" Houston, III for his 5 accomplishments as Pastor of the First Church of Deliverance, 6 and upon his elevation to the office of Bishop of the 2nd 7 District, Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc. on 8 Sunday, April 27, 2003; and be it further 9 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 10 presented to Reverend Otto T. "Butch Houston, III as a token 11 of our respect and esteem.