[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE BY REVEREND D. MICHAEL TOBY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, October 27th, the congregation 
and community of Woodway, Texas honored Reverend D. Michael Toby for 
twenty-five years of dedicated service as Pastor of the First Baptist 
Church of Woodway.
  Reverend Toby graduated from the Southwestern Baptist Theological 
Seminary in 1974, where he won the H.C. Brown Jr. Award as the 
seminary's outstanding preaching student. On October 30, 1977, Reverend 
Toby joined the First Baptist Church of Woodway. Under his ministry, 
the church membership has grown to nearly four thousand people, 
requiring a new campus and larger facilities in 1990.
  Under Reverend Toby's leadership, education programs in the church 
have been greatly expanded, winning First Baptist Woodway the ``Fastest 
Growing Sunday School Award'' three times between 1996 and 2000. 
Ministries within the church have been enriched with the addition of 
youth and adult discipleship groups, outreach efforts, prayer warrior 
and prayer room ministries, ministries for seniors, singles and college 
students, a church school, Bible Drill, Awana, Mother's Day Out, Young 
Women's Fellowship, Angel Tree, all age choirs and a Vacation Bible 
school that serves over 850 children each summer.
  Reverend Toby has led his church in mission efforts both at home and 
abroad. In 1988, the First Baptist Midway became a Key Church in the 
Mission Texas campaign, supporting the creation of churches like Brazos 
Meadows and West Robinson Baptist Church in Waco. Reverend Toby 
additionally encouraged members to lead mission trips to Russia, China, 
Africa, Mexico, the Philippines, Morocco, Turkey and other countries. 
Because of the financial commitment to these and other ministries, the 
church has been honored as one of the top 100 churches in the Baptist 
General Convention of Texas in Cooperative Program giving.
  During his ministry, Reverend Toby continued his education and his 
role in public service. Presently, he is a candidate for the Doctorate 
of Ministry degree from the Golden Gate Baptist Seminary. He has served 
on the executive board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and 
its human welfare board and public relations advisory committee. Within 
the community, Reverend Toby has served on the boards of Central Texas 
Good Will Industries and Special Wish, as president of the Rotary 
Service Club of Waco and as moderator and executive board member of the 
Waco Baptist Association.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the 
leadership and commitment of Reverend D. Michael Toby, and 
congratulating Reverend Toby and his wife Jackie on 25 years of 
dedication to the spiritual life and health of the community of Woodway 
and to Central Texas.

                          ____________________