[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 176 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND ZIDDE HAMATHEITE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend M. Zidde 
Hamatheite for his profound dedication to his religion and for sharing 
his convictions with my community through prayer.
  Reverend M. Zidde Hamatheite was born on January 11, 1971 to the late 
Archbishop M. Zidoneo and Rakal Hamatheite in Brooklyn, New York. He 
was taught at an early age to respect God and the people of God. It was 
because of his upbringing that he understood that he would pursue a 
career in prayer service.
  Under the auspices of his Pastor, Rev. Alvin Barnett of West Baptist 
Church, Reverend Hamatheite learned the ways of the ministry until he 
turned 25. The Lord led him to accept the challenge as the Pastor of 
the Gethsemane Baptist Church in December 1995 as a result of his 
training.
  After working in the Department of Education for several years and 
seeing the desperate need of the young people in this community, 
Reverend Hamatheite sought to rival against strongholds on the young 
people. He joined forces with the 73rd Precinct where he serves as 
Clergy Liaison, Police Chaplin, and Administrator for the Police 
Explorers Program. He and several members of the church also mentor 
youth for the Kings County District Attorney's Office in their Youth 
and Congregation in Partnership Program. Reverend Hamatheite saw the 
need to teach young men how to be real men so he developed a program 
that the Lord gave him, entitled, M.O.V.E. (Men of Valor Empowered), 
working with 12- to 17-year-old young men.
  Reverend Hamatheite serves on several boards in my district: he is 
the Vice President of Bridging the Gap Ministries; first and former 
President of the Young Pastors, Ministers, and Evangelists Department 
of the Eastern Baptist Association; and the former Recording Secretary 
for the Moderator's Department of the Progressive National Baptist 
Convention.
  Reverend Hamatheite now serves as the Pastor of the Wayside Baptist 
Church, where he was installed on July 18, 2011. Since arriving at 
Wayside Baptist Church, Reverend Hamatheite has implemented a new 
Visionary Theme, ``Moving from Conformity to Transformation.'' During 
his first year as Pastor he established leadership classes for all 
leaders, reorganized the Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and under his 
pastorate many have come to give their lives to Christ.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Reverend Hamatheite for his 
passion for God's word and the diverse initiatives he has employed as 
Pastor of Wayside Baptist Church.

                          ____________________