Bill Text: VA HJR915 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Virginia House Joint Resolution 915 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Commending Pastor Don C. Forrester.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-02-24 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ915ER) [HJR915 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2011-HJR915-Enrolled.html

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 915 Commending Pastor Don C. Forrester.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 18, 2011 Agreed to by the Senate, February 24, 2011

WHEREAS, Pastor Don C. Forrester, a celebrated educator and advocate, serves as the pastor of Faith Baptist Church and president of Virginia Baptist College in Fredericksburg; and

WHEREAS, a native of Amarillo, Texas, Pastor Forrester suffered from detached retinas and became totally blind at the age of nine; after learning Braille and alternative methods of study, he returned to sighted classes; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Forrester earned his bachelor's degree from West Texas A&M University in 1970; in 1973 he received his master's degree in religious education; in 1975 he received his doctorate of religious education; and, in 1994 he earned his doctorate of education from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Forrester began his teaching career as a high school English teacher in Amarillo, Texas, and Chattanooga, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, in 1974 Pastor Forrester made the Commonwealth his home when he moved to Fredericksburg to found Faith Baptist Church, which opened in January of 1975; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Forrester went on to found Faith Baptist School, which now has 307 preschool through twelfth grade students, and to serve as pastor and president of Virginia Baptist College, which has 75 students; and

WHEREAS, in addition to serving as the moderator of the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists, president of Atlantic Independent Baptist Bible Fellowship, and president of Old Dominion Association of Church Schools, Pastor Forrester has served on the boards of prestigious educational and religious associations and is active in the community; and

WHEREAS, in 1998 Pastor Forrester was appointed by Governor James Gilmore to the Virginia Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired and has held several offices, including chairman, during his four years of service; and

WHEREAS, Faith Baptist Church, awarded the Virginia Disability Friendly Business Recognition Seal in 2002 for successful employment of disabled persons, and Pastor Forrester have been honored with many awards including the Muhlenberg Award from Concerned Women for America, the Roberson Faulkner Pastoral Leadership Award, and commendation from Stafford County for the development of a Braille Employment Application; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Pastor Don C. Forrester, a celebrated pastor, educator, and advocate, upon his retirement as pastor of Faith Baptist Church after more than 36 years of proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and for his service to the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Pastor Don C. Forrester as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for his many years of service to the community of Fredericksburg and the Commonwealth.