[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 183 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING BEULAH HEIGHTS FIRST PENTECOSTAL CHURCH ON THE CELEBRATION OF 
                      THEIR CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 6, 2023

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
join the congregation of the Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church of 
New Haven, Connecticut in extending my heartfelt congratulations on the 
celebration of their 100th Anniversary. Throughout its history, the 
Church and its congregation have demonstrated a unique commitment to 
serve the community and ensure that the most vulnerable of our citizens 
could find comfort and resources in their time of need.
  Originally named Beulah Heights Mission, the ministry was founded in 
a converted storefront on Poplar Street in New Haven during the summer 
of 1923 under the leadership of the late Elder Walter and Rosa B. 
Andrews. While their initial membership was modest, just twelve, over 
the next several decades, under the leadership of Elder Andrews, Mother 
Andrews, and then Elder Lambert Tolbert, the ministry saw steady 
growth. In 1943, the Elder George H. Brooks succeeded Elder Tolbert and 
in 1950 was installed as Pastor of Beulah Heights Church.
  The installation of Pastor George Brooks at Beulah Heights Church 
also marked the beginning of what would be an expansion of the Church's 
work in the community and generational leadership at Beulah Heights. 
After serving as junior pastor under his father, Elder Theodore L. 
Brooks, Sr. was installed as the church's fifth pastor in 1988.
  It was the vision and leadership of Bishop Brooks that Beulah Heights 
became a pillar in the Greater New Haven community. The first outreach 
ministry under this new administration was the Beulah Land Development 
Corporation, launching what still today is an ongoing renaissance in 
New Haven's Dixwell community. The organization's mission focused on 
transforming severely blighted properties into safe, revitalized 
affordable homes for working families. Over the last four years, its 
Back to School Fair has served over 1,500 children and 3,000 families. 
Children from preschool through high school receiving backpacks filled 
with all the tools necessary to be prepared on the first day of school 
and adults and parents in attendance are connected with a network of 
health and human services resources from around the city. The Beulah 
Heights Social Integration Program provides outreach to individuals who 
have experienced substance abuse, dependence and incarceration--
equipping them with essential resources to help them obtain employment, 
housing, and mental health support. And the T.L. Brooks Ministries 
utilizes new technologies to make the preached word available for the 
masses on CD and DVD.
  Today, while Bishop Brooks remains an active participant in both the 
Church and its many ministries, his son, Elder Harold Brooks leads 
Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church, while his other son, Darrell 
Brooks serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Beulah Land 
Development--representing a third generation of invaluable service to 
our community.
  The Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church has not only been a 
center for religious worship, but a vehicle through which their members 
could give back to the community. For the last century, the Beulah 
Heights First Pentecostal Church has been a fixture in our community, 
their ministry and outreach efforts leaving an indelible mark on our 
community. The Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church gives its 
members a place to find their spiritual center and to solidify and 
support their values--a beacon of light and hope for their members and 
the community. I am proud to stand today and extend my very best wishes 
to them as they mark this milestone in their history. Happy 100th 
Anniversary and as we say in Italian, C'ent Anni.

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