[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 76 (Thursday, June 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO REV. ROBERT CHARLES JEFFERSON, FOUNDER AND SENIOR PASTOR 
                  OF CULLEN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2005

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Today I pay tribute to a noble 
spiritual leader, a friend and my pastor, Rev. Robert Charles 
Jefferson. As the founder and senior pastor of the Cullen Missionary 
Baptist Church, he will, on Sunday, June 12, 2005, celebrate more than 
28 years of loyal and dedicated service to not only the ministry but to 
the people of the great city of Houston, TX, as well.
  Mr. Speaker, Rev. Jefferson was born on January 12, 1942 in Baton 
Rouge, LA. After completing his undergraduate education, he moved to 
Houston, TX, where he completed graduate study at Texas Southern 
University and InterBaptist Theological Center. For more than 17 years, 
before accepting his call to the ministry, Rev. Jefferson ran a very 
successful air-conditioning business. Because he is a great spirit-
filled religious leader, in 1977, he was led to organize Cullen 
Missionary Baptist Church where, since its founding, he has served as 
senior pastor.
  Rev. Jefferson is known throughout the community as a ``bridge 
builder.'' Over the years, he has successfully been able to distinguish 
Cullen Missionary Baptist Church as a center for community activism as 
well as a haven for those in need of care. In 1991, he established the 
Cullen Christian Child Development Center, a daycare center for 
Christian youth. A few years later, in 1998, his leadership led to the 
creation of the Cullen Senior Citizens Ministry, Inc., which has 
provided more than 54 affordable housing units for seniors 55 and 
older. His housing ministry also recently created: ``Brand New City, 
Inc.,'' which has built, since its inception, more than 500 houses for 
low income families and is well on its way to surpassing that number 
this year.
  Mr. Speaker, Rev. Jefferson is not one who takes his role in the 
business of saving lives and souls lightly, and his membership in the 
Houston Branch of the NAACP, where he has served since 1987 as the 
Director of Religious Affairs, is indicative of that commitment. Even 
as he works tirelessly as a full-time pastor, he has managed to fulfill 
the roles of moderator of the Houston Gulf Coast Baptist Association; 
president of the Ministry Advisory Council of Houston and chairman of 
the board of Love Our Kids, Inc. He is the founder president of city-
wide summer recreational programs and since 1979, coordinated programs 
for Houston's Ministers Against Crime, Inc.
  Rev. Jefferson is the recipient of a number of honors and awards that 
include, but are not limited to certificates of appreciation from then-
Governor of Texas, Ann Richards, and Houston Mayor Bob Lanier in 1992. 
That same year, he also received the Barbara Jordan Leadership Award in 
recognition of his uncompromising commitment to diversity and human 
rights. Over the years, tributes from Texas Southern University, the 
Houston Defender, Anheuser-Busch Companies and others have all 
highlighted the accomplishments of one of Houston's greatest spiritual 
leaders.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, when history records the legacy of Rev. Robert 
Charles Jefferson, I believe he will be touted as a visionary who has 
dedicated his life to ensuring that no one is left behind.

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