[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 15, 2018

  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
Anniversary of Memorial Baptist Church, located in the city of Baytown 
in East Harris County.
   This area was mainly a farming and ranching community known as Goose 
Creek, until oil was found there in 1907 and it quickly became a rowdy 
and untidy camp. In 1918, Reverend J. W. Anderson felt that God was 
calling him to organize a church in Goose Creek. At this time a group 
of Christian women held a prayer meeting in their homes and the First 
Baptist Church of Goose Creek was organized with eight members. 
Reverend Anderson was named the pastor and the first building was 
built. In 1927, the church had grown to 614 members and Reverend J. D. 
Fuller became the new pastor. Due to their increased size, the 
congregation needed a larger building. This building cost $50,000 and 
they had a hard time making payments during the depression. On December 
7, 1945, the cities of Pelly annexed Goose Creek and Baytown. At this 
time, the church changed its name to Memorial Baptist Church and built 
a new sanctuary on Sterling Street.
   In 2008 Memorial Church and Trinity Baptist Church voted to donate 
their church buildings on Highway 146 to Memorial. This new area became 
the North Campus of Memorial Baptist Church and Reverend Andrew 
McDaniel was named pastor. On 25 August 2017, Hurricane Harvey came 
ashore in Texas. It flooded Baytown and other areas along the coast. 
Memorial Baptist Church's gym was used as a shelter for over 180 
people. A deacon of the church named Robby Davis along with a team of 
other church members helped to clean out homes to be repaired. They 
moved furniture, cabinets, flooring and sheet rock. Some people did day 
labor, furnished food, washed clothes and provided places for victims 
of the storm to stay. Memorial North Campus was also flooded and on 
November 4, 2017, they were able to worship at that location again.
   On 25 February 2018, this church will celebrate being a century old. 
God has used Memorial Baptist Church as an amazing witness for 100 
years and I am privileged to have such a place of worship in my 
district.

                          ____________________