MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Kirby, Scoper, Smith, Johnson (19th), White (29th), Nunnelee, Little, King, Ross, Carlton, Dearing, Frazier, Harden, Furniss, Lee, Thames, Harvey, Farris
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE MINISTRY AND CIVIC DEDICATION OF DR. FRANK POLLARD, OUTSTANDING PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AND CONGRATULATING HIM ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, on December 30, 2001, First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi, celebrated the outstanding ministry of Dr. Franklin Dawes (Frank) Pollard, on the eve of his retirement as Pastor; and
WHEREAS, under the outstanding leadership of Frank Pollard from 1974 to 1980 and from 1986 through 2001, First Baptist Church has expanded its ministries and missions from Jackson's inner-city to around the world; and
WHEREAS, the church has consistently been one of the top three among 40,000 Southern Baptist Churches in giving through the Cooperative Program to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for Home Missions - a total of $23,811,927.00; the church has established Mission First, a nonprofit inner-city ministry organization; built and staffed the West Park Ministry Center in inner-city Jackson; involved more than 1,000 members in over 20 mission trips and projects in Jackson and the United States and around the world in the year 2000; developed a churchwide Mission Statement; established a Mission and Evangelism Department; founded a Chinese congregation with over 70 active members; established a weekly ministry to the international community of Jackson; and started the Deerfield Baptist Church at Gluckstadt, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Sunday services are broadcast to over 20 million homes as the TV Baptist Hour and on more than 300 stations as the Radio Baptist Hour. For five years, FBC services were the only evangelical TV broadcast in Russia; and
WHEREAS, the Music Ministry involves more than 1,100 singers in 16 choirs. The Carols by Candlelight Christmas Concert and the Easter Musical were broadcast nationally by ABC in 1995 and 1996; and
WHEREAS, the church has: baptized 2,367 since 1974; moved to multiple Sunday Schools and Worship Services; started a ministry to singles and college students that now involves 1,500; initiated a Counseling Ministry that currently employs a dozen therapists seeing some 3,500 cases annually; implemented a Church Activities Ministry that involves 60,000 annually; led more than 900 to pray to receive Christ through various ministries in the year 2000; and sent more than 75 members to Southern Baptist Seminaries; and
WHEREAS, Frank Pollard was named one of seven Outstanding Protestant Preachers in America by Time Magazine, was honored with a Distinguished Service Award by the Alumni Association of Golden Gate Seminary, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Southwestern Seminary and Dr. Pollard was chosen by his fellow pastors to be President of the Mississippi Baptist Convention; and
WHEREAS, when Jesus said in John 15:19 "you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world," he already had his hand on Frank Pollard. Not only did God choose Frank Pollard, he also chose Jane Shepherd, a fellow student at Graham High School, who was well into plans for a career in medicine. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Jane joined her life with Frank's replacing medicine with ministry; and
WHEREAS, Frank and Jane Pollard and their children, Suzanne and Brent, followed a ministerial trail that carried them through Southwestern Seminary, through a series of small pastorates in rural Texas, then to the rapidly-expanding Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas. His reputation as Pastor of Shiloh Terrace Church led the Pulpit Committee from First Baptist Church to hear the 39-year-old preacher on Sunday, December 30, 1973, and was called immediately. He served for six years before going to First Baptist Church of San Antonio, Texas, then became President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley, California. Dr. Pollard was called again to First Baptist Church in 1986 for his second service as pastor; the growth of the church programs during Dr. Pollard's tenure is a matter of record; and
WHEREAS, for many years Dr. Pollard was our neighbor across the street from the New Capitol and gave the invocation for the commencement of sessions of the Mississippi Senate on numerous occasions; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the outstanding ministry of an individual who surely was God's chosen instrument, and who brought honor to his congregation, his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the ministry and civic dedication of Dr. Frank Pollard, outstanding Pastor of First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement, and wish him and his family success in all their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Pollard and his family, be forwarded to the Mississippi Baptist Convention and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.