[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 120 (Thursday, September 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1299-E1300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING BRUSHY CREEK CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
pillar of the community, Brushy Creek Church.
  Brother Edward Spencer was the founder of Brushy Creek Church. He was 
born in Virginia in 1819 and was brought to Mississippi by the slave 
traders at the age of 9. He professed religion in 1849 but remained in 
the white Baptist Church until 1869 as a free man.
  Brother Spencer was appointed deacon by the white Baptist Church and 
decided that he needed to seek shelter for his own race. So with the 
assistance of others Brother Spencer succeeded in building a church 
approximately 30 x 40. Not being satisfied with this he then 
organized a Sunday school and afterwards a public school and later he 
added another 10 making the church 30 ft. x 50 ft.
  Brother Edward Spencer was the father of 14 children, often having to 
be away from his family traveling back and forth to church. In his old 
age, trying to return home about 7:00 p.m., he fell a victim to death 
on the roadside and was found on a Tuesday morning.
  His funeral was attended by his wife, who was approximately 90 yrs. 
of age, 2 surviving children, Pastor R. B. Jordan and the mothers of 
Brushy Creek Church. He was buried on land he had purchased more than 
31 years before.
  The church was repaired under the administration of Rev. R. B. Jordan 
of Jackson MS. He made the walls higher and made room for the pulpit 
and he added a deacon board to the church: Bro. L. A. Catching, Bro. V. 
L. Harper and Bro. Joe Murry.
  The Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist Church has its roots in the 
Hopewell Baptist Church from which development of a separate church 
began in 1853, with the establishment of a separate room for the black 
members of the congregation.
  In 1866 the black members of Hopewell Baptist Church voted to hold 
separate services every third Sunday and called Bro. Theophilus Green, 
``a white man'' to serve as pastor. The final break with the Hopewell 
Baptist Church came in October 1869 when Brushy Creek Church was 
organized with 50 charter members.
  In March of 1877, the Sunday School Roll had record that there were 
26 members: Fifteen males and eleven women including the 
superintendent, Bro. Edward Spencer Sr., the Secretary, Bro. Calvin 
Spencer and the Treasurer, Bro. George Green.
  The original church was actually at Brush Harbor where members met on 
land owned by Mr. Retinor who eventually deeded the land to the church. 
The first church structure was a log building. Then a lumber building 
finished in 1902 and a stone building rebuilt in 1951.
  Rev. Hugh C. White of Raymond, MS, who became pastor in February 1930 
in the year 1931 was paid as low as $2.50 per month and as high as 
$31.67 per month but received plenty of chickens, potatoes, greens, and 
eggs as a partial payment.
  Rev. Hugh White along with the board elected a grievance committee 
and a grave section. In reading the records Rev. White took in many 
candidates for baptism and baptized them in the creek in back of Reno's 
Store. Rev. White gave his resignation in March 1934 and said his last 
sermon would be the 3rd Sunday in December 1934.
  Rev. E. G. Roberson was motioned in April 1935 to serve as tentative 
pastor of Brushy Creek until the year of 1935 was out and on February 
15, 1936 became the permanent pastor and the members voted to move the 
church to the top of the hill during the year of 1936.
  The church records reflect Rev. S. M. Dukes of Jackson, MS was 
elected pastor of Brushy Creek Baptist Church in 1952. Under his 
leadership, Bro. Joe Haley was added to the deacon board.
  He served as pastor for a number of years, after which the Rev. Nick 
C. Bradley of Jackson, MS. Under his leadership the church was repaired 
by building a bell tower approximately 30 high.
  Following his administration, Rev. A. Banks of Jackson, MS was 
elected pastor of Brushy Creek and served one year. No records were 
found in regards to his accomplishments.
  Records reflect that Rev. Willie H. Hines was the next pastor who was 
elected and served for 26 years, under his leadership many souls were 
bought to Christ and many accomplishments were made. The building 
addition added was 16 x 40. Rev. Hines later moved to Hattiesburg 
where he also had a church.

[[Page E1300]]

  Brushy Creek Baptist Church elected Rev. Hugh Lewis to serve as 
associate pastor for the remainder of the year. Rev. Lewis then became 
Brushy Creek's pastor and served for over 20 years. Under his 
leadership he added more deacons and made many accomplishments such as 
adding a fellowship hall, hot water heater, reroofing the church, 
installing an inside baptism pool, the concrete was poured in front of 
the fellowship hall, water fountains, carpet, P.A. System, new organ, 
new ladies room at the front entrance, new pulpit, floors partially 
replaced, new light fixtures, a bus was purchased and later sold for 
$500.00.
  Rev. Hugh Lewis gave his resignation in December 2003 and recommended 
that Rev. Gregory D. Brown be over the pulpit until it was decided who 
the next pastor would be.
  Rev. Gregory D. Brown was nominated Pastor of Brushy Creek Church and 
preached his first sermon as pastor in December 21, 2003. Rev Brown was 
installed as pastor February 8, 2004.
  Rev. Brown previously served as Moderator of Brushy Creek New Hope 
Association. The membership has grown and he restored services back to 
full time with services starting at 9:00 a.m. for Sunday school, and 
morning worship starting at 10:30 every Sunday. Congressman Bennie 
Thompson Foundation donated two laptops to the church. The congregation 
both, children & adults, have benefited from the donation. Congressman 
Thompson's Foundation was also very instrumental in the donation of 5 
acres of land that was acquired August 27, 2010 for church use only 
from Sis. Mary Jane Catchings, who was once a member of Brushy Creek 
Church.
  Rev. Brown has served as our pastor for 9 years and still serves 
faithfully. On June 16, 2013 we will be celebrating 144 years of the 
church's anniversary and the funds raised will go toward our dream of 
building a new church.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Brushy 
Creek Church as they strive to be the foundation for others to find the 
joy of serving God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

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