[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 4, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF PASTOR JOHN POWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 2020

  Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of an 
incredible servant, John Powell, Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist 
Church of New Caney, Texas.
  After stopping on the roadside to help someone in distress, Pastor 
Powell was tragically killed when he was struck by a passing truck. 
Robert Downen, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle, wrote a very 
touching article about Pastor Powell's life and the example he set for 
others--one of selfless service. According to Robert Downen's account, 
Pastor Powell and a friend were driving in Sherman, Texas, when they 
spotted a car catch fire on the side of the road. Pastor Powell 
immediately stopped, grabbed his emergency kit bag and rushed to help. 
Just as he and his friend arrived at the scene, the brakes failed on an 
approaching semi-truck and it veered toward the group. Pastor Powell 
took decisive action and was able to push one individual out of the 
way, saving their life. Unfortunately, the young pastor was unable to 
get out of the way himself, and was killed.
  Pastor Powell grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, where he knew from a 
young age that he wanted to pursue ministry. That desire led him to 
enroll in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, 
Kentucky where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. While at the 
seminary, he showed his care and concern for those less fortunate and 
began leading worship services at local homeless shelters.
  After graduation, Powell took on a challenging assignment and became 
the pastor of a small Baptist church in the West Texas town of Hamlin. 
When later reflecting on the lessons he learned during that time, 
Powell said, ``Success is faithfulness, even when it's hard, even when 
you want to give up.''
  In 2016, Powell and his family moved to the Eighth Congressional 
District of Texas, where he established the Emmanuel Baptist Church in 
New Caney. Over the years, Powell grew this small church into a pillar 
of the community and guided his 140 members to walk in the light of the 
Lord, and in fellowship with one another.
  Those who knew Pastor Powell remember him as bright, passionate, and 
warm-hearted. Many spoke of him as, ``the best man [they've] ever 
known.'' Andrew Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological 
Seminary, said of Powell, ``In every sphere of life where he had 
influence, he always wielded it for the betterment of others.''
  The Houston Chronicle reported that in Pastor Powell's final sermon 
before his death, he preached from Psalm 72, saying that, ``in the poor 
man's distress, Christians might be there'' and asked his congregation, 
``How could we pray that God would have compassion on those that need 
it while not having that compassion on them ourselves?'' To those who 
knew him, it was no surprise that Pastor John Powell stopped on the 
side of a road to help someone in distress. He died as he lived--
helping others. He was a man of faith and faithfulness who had 
compassion for others, and who willingly risked and ultimately 
sacrificed his own life so that others might live. He was a hero. He 
leaves a legacy of selfless service and compassion. His life was a true 
example of Christian love and sacrifice, values that we would all do 
well to reflect on and try to emulate.
  Pastor Powell is survived by his wife, Katherine, and their four 
beautiful children. I join the Powell family, the Emmanuel Baptist 
Church, and the entire community of New Caney in mourning this tragic 
loss. May God bless Pastor John Powell.

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