[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1201]]


                  TRIBUTE TO DR. JOHNNY RAY YOUNGBLOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 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 School 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 
Harper Collins book, ``Upon This Rock: The Miracles of a Black 
Church,'' written by Samuel G. Freedman. In 1996, Youngblood and the 
ministry of the St. Paul Community were featured in an article entitled 
``Crossing Border'' in the premiere edition 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 
entitled, ``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.

                          ____________________