[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 30813]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 HONORING SOUTH POST OAK BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 1999

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the members of the 
congregation of South Post Oak Baptist Church in my home district of 
Houston, Texas for celebrating their church's 40th anniversary. The 
South Post Oak Baptist Church family has been a pillar of the 
community, effectively ministering to its members for four decades.
  South Post Oak Baptist Church was organized October 4, 1959 as a 
separate entity of Almeda Baptist Church and was incorporated in 1961. 
From its humble beginnings, the church has been a viable point of 
spiritual reference for the community. Under the leadership of Rev. 
Remus E. Wright, the membership of the church has grown rapidly, from 
300 in 1991 to more than 4,500 members in 1999.
  Over the past decade Rev. Wright and his wife Mia have worked to make 
South Post Oak Baptist Church, ``A Positive Place in a Negative 
World.'' Their endurance and tremendous energy in addressing the needs 
of South Post Oak Baptist Church's congregation have served their 
community well.
  The youngest of nine children born to Remus and Elizabeth Wright in 
Indianapolis, Indiana, Rev. Wright answered the call to the ministry 
during his mid-twenties, becoming an Associate Minister at Grace 
Apostolic church. He joined the Pentecostal Ambassadors and recorded 
two gospel albums on which he sang, wrote and produced most of the 
songs. Upon relocating to Houston, Pastor Wright found his home at 
South Post Oak Baptist Church, guiding the church into its largest ever 
period of growth. The Church's focus has been on the family; the 
responsibilities of men; special needs of our senior citizens; and 
``real life'' programs for youth. Rev. Wright's focus on families is a 
major reason why he now devotes his energy to ministering to more than 
2,500 families at South Post Oak Baptist Church.
  While Rev. Wright's religious and spiritual obligations have always 
been paramount, as a community leader, he has undertaken his civic 
duties with the utmost seriousness and passion, serving on several 
boards and organizations. He serves on two local high school boards, 
the YMCA board, and is a volunteer with LifeGift Organ Donation 
Program. He was selected to serve as a Foreign Missionary and Church 
Planter for the Southern Baptist Association in Zimbabwe, Africa. Most 
recently, he became part of an on-going Summer Leadership Institute 
Program at Harvard University designed to strengthen faith-based 
programs throughout urban communities in the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, South Post Oak Baptist Church has much to celebrate on 
its 40th anniversary. The church has been a haven for its community. 
Since its beginnings four decades ago through the last 8 years of 
unprecedented growth, South Post Oak Baptist Church should be commended 
for its dedication to God and commitment to the needs of its 
congregation and surrounding community.

                          ____________________