[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1810-1811]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE REVEREND DR. CARL F. BROOKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM MAHONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2008

  Mr. MAHONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor Dr. 
Carl F. Brooks for his commitment to service in his community and his 
church, First Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Punta Gorda, 
Florida. Dr. Brooks has employed his selfless vision to promote and 
provide resources that help people turn to God.
  Sunday February 10, 2008 will mark the 28th anniversary of Dr. 
Brooks' service as Pastor of First Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. 
He began in 1980 when Punta Gorda was a small town on the southwest 
coast of Florida. As Punta Gorda grew, his vision and mission to serve 
expanded to provide human services and educational resources.
  The Reverend Dr. Brooks is quoted as saying ``The future is not 
something you enter, it is something you create. We will not continue 
with `Business as Usual', we will be guided by an authentic vision 
through which the Kingdom's agenda is accomplished.''
  In his capacity as visionary and servant of Charlotte County, the 
Reverend Dr. Brooks has made his church part of the Emergency Shelter 
National Board Program by providing food and shelter to residents in 
times of disaster. He has worked tirelessly to create nonprofit 
organizations that help children and families, promote educational 
opportunities for his congregation, and serves as a member of the 
National Baptist Convention of America in addition to being Florida's 
representative for the Board of Evangelism.

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  Dr. Brooks is the proud husband of Karen and the father of three 
daughters Tonya, Carla and Kayla.
  I am proud to recognize Dr. Brooks for his great service to both 
Charlotte County and the First Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. Our 
community is truly blessed to have Dr. Brooks as a resident. I would 
like to express my thanks and gratitude to Dr. Brooks for his service 
to our community and our country.

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