[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10978]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO RONALD J. BRIDGES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ronald J. 
Bridges for his service to children and families throughout New York 
City.
  Mr. Ronald J. Bridges is a native of Newark, New Jersey. He and his 
lovely wife Yvette celebrated 31 years of marriage on March 28. They 
have three wonderful children, two boys and a girl: Rashidi, Husani, 
and Bahati.
  Mr. Bridges is the Chairman of the Diaconate Ministry at the historic 
Berean Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York. In this leadership 
position, Mr. Bridges provides spiritual and administrative guidance to 
the church ministerial leaders. He attends New York Theological 
Seminary where he earned the Master of Divinity Degree in 2009. Mr. 
Bridges has done additional studies at the Berean Baptist Bible Study 
Institute, including a four year Bible study certificate program; upon 
graduation, he was named ``Salutatorian of the Class of 1999.'' A New 
York state licensed psychotherapist since 1988, Mr. Bridges also holds 
a Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College School of Social 
Work of New York City.
  Mr. Bridges spent his entire career helping others. In his 24 years 
of local government service, Mr. Bridges held a senior administrative 
manager post within New York City Children's Service Foster Care 
division. As its Regional Director of the Group Home Division in the 
boroughs of the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan from 1990 to 2007, Mr. 
Bridges counseled, taught and helped countless teenagers and their 
families. Currently, Mr. Bridges is the Regional Deputy Director of New 
York City Children's Service Child Protection Division in the Bronx, 
New York. Mr. Bridges oversees all New York State Registry reports of 
abuse and neglect of children within numerous communities in the Bronx. 
This is a tremendous responsibility in which Mr. Bridges depends 
heavily on his relationship with his Lord, Christ Jesus; as well as on 
his vast experience as he guides and directs over one hundred child 
protective employees.
  Affectionately known as ``Deacon Bridges'' or ``Deacon Ron,'' Mr. 
Bridges is a dedicated servant of Christ and has been a member of 
Berean Baptist Church since 1992. Mr. Bridges faithfully echoes, ``Only 
what we do for Christ will last.'' This is evident by Mr. Bridges' 
commitment to various ministries within Berean Baptist Church and the 
community. He is a devoted Sunday school teacher and student, and is 
also a member of the Berean's Christian Counseling ministry where he 
teaches a Christian counseling course. Mr. Bridges serves as the vice 
chairman of the Board of Directors for the Berean Community Family Life 
Center. He is the founder of And Ye Shall Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself 
Ministries. Mr. Bridges works with officials at Montefiore and with the 
faith-based community to establish a network of churches to serve as a 
surrogate support system for liver transplant patients.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
contributions of Ronald J. Bridges.

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