[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING BETHESDA BAPTIST CHURCH AND PASTOR HORACE SANDERS, JR.

  (Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and salute the dynamic 
faith community of Bethesda Baptist Church in New Rochelle as they 
welcome their new pastor, Reverend Horace Sanders, Jr., and his wife, 
Lady Katrina Sanders, to the pulpit. Bethesda Baptist will be 
celebrating this month over installation weekend, highlighted by a 
congregational celebration gala on Friday night, January 16.
  The faithful of Bethesda have given God the glory for over 138 years, 
since 1888, with weekly Sunday services, Friday morning prayer line, 
Wednesday Bible study, programs for seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 
a food pantry for the needy and hungry, and programs targeted to the 
youth of the community.
  Pastor-elect Sanders served for over a decade at Mount Olivet 
Missionary Baptist Church in Schenectady and previously in Peekskill. 
His energetic leadership was on display last week when Bethesda hosted 
Watch Night services, joined by two other New Rochelle congregations. 
Reverend Sanders' sermon ``Leave the Baggage Behind'' was a perfect 
theme to start the new year and his new responsibilities at Bethesda.
  Mr. Speaker, I welcome him and Lady Katrina to New Rochelle from the 
floor of the House of Representatives, and I look forward to his many 
contributions in the days to come.


               Honoring the Birthday of C. Nathan Edwers

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Archbishop C. Nathan 
Edwers, spiritual leader and senior pastor at Friendship Worship Center 
in Mount Vernon as he celebrates his 65th birthday this month. His 
congregates, friends, and admirers will gather that weekend for a 
festive event in his honor, and we join in that recognition for a man 
of God who has been a leader in the community inside and outside of his 
church.
  Bishop Edwers holds a number of academic degrees, including a 
doctorate from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He 
began his ministry in 1983 and came from Brooklyn to Mount Vernon in 
1989 to lead the Friendship Worship community. He has grown the church 
dynamically with outreach to embrace a large presence in the Mount 
Veteran community with the religious vision for worship, prayer, Bible 
study, and a community vision for services to the youth, seniors, and 
those in need with food delivery, after-school and summer programs, a 
warming center for the homeless, foster family services, and more.
  Bishop Edwers has held numerous positions in the church organization, 
also in the Masons, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, and as a founder and 
leader of the United Black Clergy of Westchester County. He has done 
all of this with his wife, Aro Denise Edwers, as his life partner, and 
all of this was done in a mere 65 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy birthday to Bishop Edwers from the floor 
of the House of Representatives.

                              {time}  1045


                    Recognizing Shoreline Publishing

  Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, in a world where local newspapers and radio 
stations are disappearing, it is valuable to recognize and salute those 
organizations that are continuing to provide information about our 
local communities' life and times.
  In Westchester County we owe a public debt of gratitude to Shoreline 
Publishing, which serves the people of southern Westchester with five 
community newspapers; a countywide Jewish monthly newspaper; and a 
full-color quarterly magazine, Westchester Women.
  Under the leadership of president and publisher Edward Shapiro, 
Shoreline provides an information lifeline across our towns with the 
Pelham Post, the Bronxville Bulletin, the Harrison Herald, the 
Larchmont Ledger--as you can see, alliteration still has its appeal--
and the New Rochelle Review.
  Editors Cynthia Pena and Joyce Farrell ensure timely local news 
reaches the readers in each community, as well as the readers of 
Westchester Jewish Life, which is always available in the local 
synagogues and temples. Other key Shoreline executives round out the 
local team, including Lauren Levine and Mary DeYoung.
  I thank Shoreline Publishing from the floor of the House of 
Representatives for continuing to keep local news at the forefront of 
our hometowns.

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