[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 119 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING BETHESDA BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEW ROCHELLE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2018

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with my great pleasure to honor, and to 
celebrate the Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle on their 130th 
anniversary. The Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle is the oldest 
African-American Church in lower Westchester County, and they are a 
cornerstone of the New Rochelle community.
  In May 1888, there were only a few African-American Baptists living 
in the village of New Rochelle, and even though they were permitted to 
worship at the Salem Baptist Church, the community strived to create a 
church for themselves. Jesses Owns, Israel King, William Fountain, 
Richard Painter, and others in the village received help from Reverend 
Guy Powell of Mt. Baptist Church, in Virginia, to raise funds and find 
a location for the congregation to call their own. The community would 
soon find their building on North Avenue, and on July 5, 1888, the 
first sermon was delivered by Reverend Isaac Newton Phelps to 15 
members at the Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle's first home.
  Throughout the long history of the Bethesda Baptist Church, each 
pastorate has established new programs to aid and serve the New 
Rochelle community. Reverend Boddie was instrumental to finding the 
church's permanent location, in 1918, on Lincoln Avenue. Reverend Dr. 
Henderson instituted a sermonette for children, and opened the church's 
first office.
  Reverend Dr. Long Sr., who was also the first African-American on the 
New Rochelle Board of Education, began the youth ministry at Bethesda 
Baptist Church. Reverend Wanamaker continued to expand the church's 
outreach to New Rochelle's youth by organizing the Youth Fellowship. 
Reverend Thompson was the next pastor who led the successful ``Debt 
Free in '73,'' which eliminated all of the church's debt. The Youth 
Fellowship program also became more active during his pastorate, which 
allowed for the group to attend cultural, education, and religious 
conventions. After Reverend Thompson, Reverend Dr. Allen Paul Weaver 
Jr. began his pastorate and has remained the Pastor for almost 4 
decades.
  Reverend Weaver has not only grown the membership of the church, but 
ensured the core values of the Church: Exalting, Equipping, 
Evangelizing, Encouraging, Edifying and Exemplifying Christian 
Evangelism, Reclaiming our Youth, Mission (both home and foreign), and 
Christian Education.
  Mr. Speaker, Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle has a long, and 
rich history of serving the community. I want to congratulate them on 
their 130th anniversary, and look forward to their continued works over 
the coming years.

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