[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND DR. G. DAVID HORTON, PASTOR OF GREATER NEW 
                         BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2003

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of our 
community's indefatigable church leaders, the Reverend Dr. G. David 
Horton, Pastor of Greater New Bethel Baptist Church in my district. The 
members and supporters of his congregation will honor him on the 24th 
anniversary of his pastorate at a gala evening dinner on Saturday, July 
26, 2003, to be held at Miami Shores Country Club.
  Reverend Horton truly evokes the vocation of a Good Shepherd who 
attends to his flock in ways we can never fathom. As pastor and 
teacher, he exudes the knowledge and pragmatism of a visionary who goes 
about teaching the ways of God, and has tirelessly worked to enlighten 
our community on the agenda of spiritual wisdom and good governance 
impacting our duties and responsibilities to the less fortunate among 
us.
  I want to commend his tremendous work in guiding not only the members 
of the Greater New Bethel Baptist Church, but also the residents of the 
Miami-Dade community in a manner that bespeaks of his concern and 
compassion to those in need. Through the longevity of his pastorate, he 
has truly persevered in showing us the Way and expounding for us the 
Truth that emanate from our knowledge of the Gospels and the teachings 
gathered there from.
  Having completed his religious studies from the Easonian Theological 
Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama, he went on to pursue and obtain his 
Doctorate of Ministry from the South Florida Center for Theological 
Studies. In the midst of his studies, he played the role of CEO of 
Bethel's Family Life Center and Child Care by emphasizing the sanctity 
of the family and the importance of caring for and responding to 
children's learning needs. This commitment truly undergirds his 
unshakable belief in that ``. . . the ruin of a nation starts in the 
homes of its people.''
  As he continues to be involved in the Baptist Church's state and 
national positions from instructor to facilitator to bible expositor, 
Rev. Horton never lost sight of the needs and concerns of the our 
community by chairing the Board of the South Florida Jail Ministries. 
It is his consecration to our prisoners' well-being that truly makes 
him a quintessential steward of the Gospel for his advocacy on behalf 
of the downtrodden and the imprisoned. It is through this ministry that 
he has wisely articulated the fact that the genuine measure of our love 
for God is conditioned by our commitment ``. . . to the least of these 
. . .''
  Rev. Horton's timely and persevering leadership at Greater New Bethel 
Baptist Church for some 24 years is genuinely commendable. As a man of 
God and as a community leader, he has indeed earned our deepest 
respects and our superlative admiration.
  This is the legacy of the Reverend Dr. G. David Horton. I am truly 
privileged in thanking him for his many years of service in the 
Vineyard of the Lord. My pride in sharing his friendship is only 
exceeded by my utmost gratitude for everything he has sacrificed on our 
community's behalf as he continues to teach us to live by the noble 
ethic of loving God by serving our fellow men.