[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 85 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1168-E1169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO DR. JOHNNY RAY YOUNGBLOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2004

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood 
in recognition of his spiritual leadership and contributions to the 
community.
  Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood is without a doubt, one of the leading 
theologians of his time. His commitment to the call of spiritual 
healing, racial parity, social justice and economic equity for all 
people has garnered him national recognition as a preacher, national 
leader, public advocate, motivator, writer and teacher. Now in his 30th 
year serving as senior pastor of St. Paul Community Baptist church and 
3rd year as senior pastor of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, both located in 
Brooklyn, New York, he has completed more than a quarter of a century 
pastoring to God's people.
  In May of 1990, Youngblood received his Doctorate of Ministry degree 
from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he studied with 
an elite group of preachers from across the country as a Samuel D. 
Proctor Fellow. Dr. Youngblood earned his Masters of Divinity degree 
from Colgate-Rochester Divinity in Rochester, New York and his 
bachelor's degree from Dillard University in New Orleans. Dr. 
Youngblood is now single and a father of three sons, Joel Ray, Jason 
Royce and Johnny Jenell, and the grandfather of Donny Lynn, Joshua, 
Jalen and Jordyn.
  Dr. Youngblood has earned national recognition because of his work 
with East Brooklyn Congregations (EBC), an affiliate of the Industrial 
Areas Foundation. He is credited through EBC with spearheading the 
Nehemiah Housing project, which to date has constructed approximately 
2,850 owner-occupied single family homes in some of the most devastated 
communities in Brooklyn. He has served as national spokesman for the 
group and in 1990, was recognized in the Congressional Record for his 
trailblazing work with the project. Dr. Youngblood is a subject of the

[[Page E1169]]

Harper Collins book, ``Upon This Rock: The Miracles of a Black 
Church,'' written by Samuel G Freedman. In 1996, Youngblood and the 
ministry of St. Paul community were featured in an article titled 
``Crossing Border'' in the premiere of Common Quest magazine. In 
December of 1995, Dr. Youngblood was also listed in The New Yorker 
magazine as one of the ``ten most influential'' New Yorkers. He has 
been profiled on ABC's 20/20, NBC Nightly News, CBS Sunday Morning 
News, FOX 5's McCreary Live Report, and the Charlie Rose Show.
  In September 1995, Dr. Youngblood launched what has become one of the 
premier projects on the Church's annual calendar, now known as the 
commemoration of the Maafa. Dr. Youngblood is spearheading a national 
effort to promote the Maafa as a spiritual movement aimed at healing 
this nation around the scars of slavery. Since 1998, the St. Paul 
Community has toured ``The Maafa Suite'' production to venues including 
Dallas, Mississippi, Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago and Connecticut.
  In June of 1998, Dr. Youngblood released his own book of poetry 
titled, ``I Honor My Father''; a collection of poems inspired by the 
illness and loss of his father in the same year.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Youngblood has dedicated his life to helping people 
through his spiritual leadership, public advocacy and civic 
participation. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our 
recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this 
truly remarkable person.

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