[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1648-E1649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND DR. DAVID PAUL NEELY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 2002

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and 
congratulate The Reverend Dr. David Paul Neely, Sr., Pastor of Greater 
Harvest Baptist Church, on the celebration of the anniversary of his 64 
years in the ministry commemorating on September 27, 2002. After 
serving a number of churches throughout the country, Rev. Neely founded 
the Greater Harvest Baptist Church in 1968. For over 33 years he has 
Preached the Gospel from the pulpit of this house of worship located in 
my Congressional District.
  The Reverend Dr. D. P. Neely was born on May 10, 1922 in Smyrna, 
South Carolina, to the late Reverend Dr. C. S. Neely and Dora Sanders-
Neely. He was the fourteenth of sixteen children and received his 
primary education in the Smyma, South Carolina public school system. He 
completed his secondary education at the Jefferson High School in York, 
South Carolina. At the age of sixteen, Rev. Neely was called to preach 
the gospel and was ordained six months later by the late Reverend Dr. 
H. Gray. as Reverend Dr. Neely continued to grow in Christianity, he 
enrolled in the Hanover Theological Seminary and later in the Martha's 
Vineyard Theological Seminary. He is the recipient of two Doctor of 
Divinity Degrees received in 1950 and 1997 respectively.
  Reverend Neely is one of four family members to be ordained to 
minister, preach, and teach the Word of God. They include his father 
the Reverend Dr. C.S. Neely, his brother The Reverend J. O. Neely, both 
of whom are deceased, and his youngest son, the Reverend S. D. Neely, 
Sr., currently Pastor of the Enon Baptist Church of Philadelphia.
  In 1941 Reverend Neely enlisted in the United States Airforce. He 
received an Honorable Discharge in 1946. As before, during and after 
his military service, Reverend Neely continued to preach the Word of 
God and maintain his profession as a Barber. In 1955 Reverend Neely 
moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and joined the Oakgrove Baptist 
Church. He later met and married Ms. Cleveland Ann Jowers-Neely.

[[Page E1649]]

  During Reverend Neely's sixty-four years of preaching, he has served 
numerous congregations including Mount Pisgah in Dallas, North 
Carolina; First Baptist Church, Mooresville, North Carolina; Trinity 
Baptist Church, Boston, Massachusetts; Friendship Baptist Church, 
Peoria, Illinois. On the third Sunday in September, 1968, Reverend Dr. 
Neely became the founder of The Greater Harvest Baptist Church of 
Philadelphia. The church was originally located at Sixteenth and Oxford 
Streets. However, due to a growing membership it only remained at this 
location for one year. It was then moved to its second home at Broad 
and Clearfield Streets and the membership continued to grow. Its final 
home is its current location, 1409-17 West Master Street where it 
continues to stand as a strong foundation to our Lord and Savior Jesus 
Christ.
  While Reverend Neely's first love remains Jesus Christ, he has great 
esteem for his profession of over forty years, being a Licensed Barber. 
Reverend Neely's long time hobby is that of Deep Sea Fisherman. His 
affiliations include membership in The National Baptist Convention of 
U.S.A., Inc., The Philadelphia Police Clergy, The Philadelphia Prince 
Hall Masons, Pennsylvania State Convention, Ministers Conference of 
Philadelphia, and the Good Friday Night Baptist Association.
  Mr. Speaker, houses of worship and those that lead them continue to 
be the backbone of our communities. Reverend Dr. Neely having labored 
and nurtured in the vineyard for sixty-four years has come to epitomize 
those values that remain inherent in the strength an character of our 
citizenry. I hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing and 
celebrating the anniversary of The Reverend Dr. D. P. Neely's sixty-
four years in the ministry.

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