[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 121 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HULL, 
                                 TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2019

  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
Anniversary of the First Baptist Church of Hull located in east Liberty 
County, Texas.
  On July 19, 2019, a group of dedicated Christians met in a home for 
the purpose of organizing the First Baptist Church of Hull, Texas. On 
July 24 of the same year, Mr. S.E. Beavers donated two lots of land for 
a church site. Mr. Beavers was later elected as a Trustee of the church 
and his widow was the last surviving of the fourteen charter members. 
The original church building was built from lumber salvaged from the 
neighboring abandoned sawmill community of Budconner.
  On January 4, 1956, the church voted to construct the present 
auditorium, which was completed in 1957 and dedicated on August 31, 
1958. The original frame of the church building was used for several 
Sunday school classrooms until the current education building was 
completed on December 13, 1969. In January of 2012, First Baptist voted 
to build a Family Life Center.
  Over the years, the church's resiliency has been tested through 
several natural disasters: the flood of 1994, Hurricane Ike in 2008, 
and Hurricane Harvey in 2017 each caused considerable damage to First 
Baptist's property. Hurricane Harvey inundated it with several feet of 
water, wiped out nearby Hull-Daisetta Elementary School, and caused 
considerable damage to much of the surrounding community.
  During the aftermath of Harvey, the damaged Family Life Center at 
First Baptist served as a distribution center for supplies and provided 
meals for first responders, disaster relief crews, and local residents. 
Each time the church was damaged, church members, aided by groups like 
the Texas Baptist Men's (TBM) Builders, have rebuilt. To date, the 
parsonage has been restored and work on the sanctuary and education 
building is ongoing.
  In addition to being on the receiving end of mission efforts 
following natural disasters, individuals and groups from First Baptist 
Church, Hull have been missionaries at home and abroad. The church has 
made several trips to bring the Gospel to the people of Mexico, 
Guatemala, and Honduras. They have also aided in many construction 
mission projects, conducted numerous Vacation Bible Schools for 
children and young adults residing in the surrounding community, and 
have been active at the East Texas Baptist Encampment in Newton, Texas.
  Throughout the past century, the First Baptist Church of Hull has had 
twenty-seven pastors. Although most have been ``full-time,'' some have 
been bi-vocational. On October 19, 1919, Rev. R.L. Nash was called to 
be the first pastor on a part-time basis. The first full-time Pastor, 
Rev. R.W. Lindsay, began serving First Baptist on September 26, 1920. 
The first deacons were elected on May 29, 1921. The church is actively 
seeking a pastor at this time.
  On July 20, 2019, my brothers and sisters in Christ at the First 
Baptist Church of Hull will celebrate 100 years of delivering God's 
word to the people of Hull, Daisetta, and the surrounding communities. 
The Lord has used this historic church as an amazing witness for a 
century, and I am privileged to have such a place of worship in my 
district.

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