[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO THE HAITIAN EVANGELICAL BAPTIST CHURCH OF MIAMI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2006

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Haitian 
Evangelical Baptist Church of Miami on the occasion of the blessing of 
its new Sanctuary.
  On Sunday, April 9, 2006, the Reverend David Eugene will lead the 
members of his congregation to celebrate this milestone of the Church, 
which sits in the heart of my District's North Dade community.
  Founded in August 1980, this Church has unselfishly committed its 
ministry of bringing the message of salvation to newly-arrived Haitian 
immigrants. Part of its stewardship is an ongoing teaching component 
and counseling service that helps meet the needs of immigrant families 
as they strive to adapt to a new culture. It has also defined its 
outreach effort as to bring the ``whole gospel to the whole man,'' 
striving to empower the members of its congregation with their 
spiritual, emotional, mental and relational well-being, and to draw 
closer to other communities. Consistent with this philosophy of 
ministry, this Church has embarked on and supported many community 
projects to improve the quality of life of underprivileged Haitian 
children in the Miami-Dade community, and in Haiti as well.
  Since its establishment 26 years ago, the prime focus of Church 
members has been the construction of a sanctuary where people of all 
races and cultural backgrounds can come together to worship. On its 
appointed hour at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, this cherished dream will come 
to fruition when members of this Congregation will join their voices to 
those of many prominent members and supporters of this community to 
inaugurate this long-awaited sanctuary and give thanks to all those who 
have labored long and hard to ensure that this day would come.
  Reverend Eugene has spearheaded not only a spiritual rejuvenation of 
the members of his Church, but he has also made magnificent strides in 
ensuring that their commitment to the mandate of the Gospel is defined 
by its outreach efforts to provide free and reduced-price daycare 
services to the children in the community, along with an after-school 
program for low-income families, dropout prevention, computer literacy 
and acculturation classes, voters' education and registration. It has 
also established free student tutorials, substance-abuse prevention 
counseling, along with counseling for dysfunctional families, parenting 
skills, and regular seminars on cultural diversity.
  I am confident that this Church will continue to serve as an unerring 
instrument for good by evoking in us the centrality of God in our daily 
lives, conscious of the fact that mandate of our faith must define our 
charity, understanding and compassion for those who could least fend 
for themselves.
  With the consecration of its Sanctuary on its 26th year of 
establishment, the Haitian Evangelical Baptist Church of Miami 
symbolizes a magnificent legacy for the perseverance and resilience of 
our Haitian community. I join Reverend Eugene and his congregation in 
celebrating this historic event. My genuine pride in sharing their 
friendship is only exceeded by my heartfelt gratitude and admiration 
for all that they have done to help the people of our community.

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