[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8764]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE 176TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE YELLOW RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH 
                           IN BAKER, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 14, 2016

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 176th 
anniversary of the Yellow River Baptist Church in Baker, Florida.
  For 176 years, the Yellow River Baptist Church has served the 
citizens of the Gulf Coast, and today it stands as a pillar of the 
Northwest Florida community as the first Baptist church in Walton and 
Escambia counties and one of the oldest Baptist churches in the State 
of Florida.
  The Yellow River Baptist Church was established on Sunday, June 14, 
1840 with the assistance of two representatives of the Bethlehem 
Baptist Association of Alabama, nearly five years before Florida 
entered its statehood. What started with a small handful of congregants 
residing along the upper Yellow River just south of the Alabama line 
has grown over the years, and throughout the course of its history, the 
church family has consisted of members including from the Baggett, 
Barrow, Blackman, Campbell, Carver, Clary, Cobb, Collingsworth, Cook, 
Danelly, Gartman, Gaskins, George, Hart, Helms, Howell, King, Madden, 
Milligan, Parker, Peaden, Richbourg, Senterfitt, Stegall, Steele, 
Stewart and Wilkinson families.
  The success of the Yellow River Baptist Church, without question, is 
a true testament to the congregation's strong faith in the Lord and 
strength of its community, and it is my privilege to honor them on this 
important occasion.
  Mr. Speaker, my wife Vicki joins me in congratulating this small but 
faithful congregation for its 176 years of service and dedication to 
God and to the Northwest Florida community. May God grant the 
congregants of Yellow River Baptist Church many more years to come and 
may His blessings continue to shine down on them.