[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING DR. JOE SAMUEL RATLIFF FOR HIS 30TH YEAR IN THE MINISTRY

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                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2000

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to recognize the 
achievements of Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff, of Brentwood Baptist Church. On 
Wednesday, May 17, 2000, the congregation of Brentwood Baptist Church 
honored Pastor Ratliff for the many contributions he has made over the 
last 30 years in the name of the Lord.
  Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff of Lumberton, NC, received his Bachelor of 
Arts in History, from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA. He received both 
the Doctorate of Ministry and Doctorate of Divinity degrees from the 
Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. He has done 
post-doctoral work at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
  It is difficult to imagine what the Houston community would be like 
today had Dr. Ratliff not been called to become Pastor of Brentwood in 
1980. We have been truly blessed to have a man with his sense of 
dedication and selflessness among us. In 1993, Dr. Ratliff co-authored 
the book, Church Planting in the African-American Community (Broadman 
Press). He was named the first African-American Moderator of the Union 
Baptist Association . . . the nation's largest urban Southern Baptist 
body, consisting of 250,000 members in 1994. In March of 1997, his 
portrait was hung in the Hall of Fame in the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
International Chapel on the Morehouse College Campus. Under Pastor 
Ratliff's leadership, the Brentwood family has grown to 10,000 strong.
  Pastor Ratliff's time with the ministry has allowed him to develop a 
strong support network that extends outside the church. Dr. Ratliff 
currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Morehouse 
School of Religion and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the 
Interdenominational Theological Center. Dr. Ratliff is a life member of 
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and is married to Mrs. Doris Gardner 
Ratliff.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask you and my fellow 
members of the 106th Congress to join me in saluting Pastor Joe Samuel 
Ratliff. Self-evident is his lifelong journey to enhancing the dignity 
and nurturing the spirits of all people. I am grateful that there are 
people like Dr. Ratliff who serve as examples of what we should all 
strive to be.

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