[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH EAST END

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                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an 
institution in my hometown of Newport News. On Friday, May 28, 2010, 
Second Baptist Church East End will celebrate its 100th anniversary, 
and I would like to highlight some moments from the history of the 
church and its contribution to our community.
  Second Baptist was organized during the first week of May, 1910, with 
Minnie Jones, A.B. Lucy, Rebecca Vaughan and Daniel Peters serving as 
charter members. The first worship service was held on the second 
Sunday in May 1910 at the Odd Fellows Hall in the 1100 block of 33rd 
Street, with Reverend J.E. Tynes serving as the guest speaker.
  The church chose Reverend H.H. McLean as its first pastor. Under his 
leadership the church membership increased rapidly--a new church 
building was built in less than a year with the first worship service 
being celebrated Easter Sunday, April 16, 1911. Under Rev. McLean's 
leadership, many church organizations were founded that are still alive 
today, including the Choir, the Deacon Board, the Board of Trustees, 
the Sunday School, the Baptist Young People's Union and the Willing 
Workers Club.
  Second Baptist has had eleven pastors throughout its history, 
including Rev. F.A. Brown, Rev. W.S. Sharp, Rev. A.A. Watts, Rev. O.B. 
Allen, Rev. John Tilley, Rev. L.A. Williams, Rev. E.D. Harrell, Rev. 
O.L. Simms, Rev. Preston T. Hayes, and Rev. Avery E. Miller.
  Under Rev. Sharp, the church was able to pay off its mortgage. Under 
Rev. Watts, multiple improvements were made to the church including the 
furnishing of stained glass windows, chandeliers and carpeting. The 
term of Rev. Allen saw the purchase of a parsonage. Rev. Harrell added 
a basement and annex to the church building. Under Rev. Simms a new 
parsonage was purchased and a new organ installed.
  The longest serving Pastor in the history of Second Baptist was Rev. 
Preston T. Hayes, who succeeded Rev. Simms in July 1956. Under Rev. 
Hayes' leadership, multiple organizations and ministries were formed, 
including: The Layman Fellowship; The Women's Prayer Breakfast; Youth 
Fellowship; Blind and Deaf Ministries; and the Wednesday Morning and 
Evening Bible Classes. While at Second Baptist, Rev. Hayes was elected 
President of the Virginia Baptist General Convention (1977-79). During 
his tenure as President, the Convention formed a Division of Men to 
provide an avenue through which the Men of the Convention could utilize 
their skills and talents in promoting Christian stewardship and support 
for their local congregations. Rev. Hayes passed away in 2001, and the 
church dedicated the Preston T. Hayes Center for Christian Education in 
his honor. In the period between permanent pastors, the church 
continued Rev. Hayes' tradition of establishing programs to serve the 
church and the community by starting a Mentoring Program and a Computer 
Lab.
  Rev. Hayes was succeeded by Second Baptist's current pastor, Rev. 
Avery E. Miller. Under Rev. Miller, Second Baptist has continued to 
flourish with the establishment of a Media Ministry, a Nursing Home 
Ministry, a Singles Ministry, and Mannah Inc., the Church's non-profit 
community service organization. Among Mannah's numerous efforts to 
serve the East End community are: one-on-one services for at-risk 
children in school; afterschool tutorial programs; summer day camps; 
and a weekly feeding program.
  As Second Baptist gathers to celebrate its centennial, the church can 
truly remember its past, celebrate its present, and focus on the future 
with great expectations. I would like to congratulate Pastor Miller and 
all of the members of Second Baptist Church East End on the occasion of 
their 100th anniversary. I wish them 100 more years of dedicated 
service to the community.

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