Recognizing the Sesquicentennial of Rural Shad Baptist Church

Floor Speech

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Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sesquicentennial of Rural Shade Baptist Church, located in the community of Tarkington Prairie in Liberty County, Texas.

In 1870, a small group met in a brush arbor in Tarkington Prairie, symbolizing the beginning of a new church. The congregation was made up of hardworking, compassionate individuals determined to provide a robust and moral foundation for their community. On July 3, 1878, a deed was granted ``for the purpose of the erection and occupancy of a Baptist Church and Masonic Hall . . .''. Later that year, a two-story building was completed. While the top floor was dedicated to the Masonic Lodge, the bottom floor served as the sanctuary of the Rural Shade Baptist Church.

In 1902, Rural Shade started a choral school, collected their first offerings for the Buckner Orphans' Home, and took on a leadership role in forming the Tryon Evergreen Baptist Association. Five years later, they constructed a second building, costing $1,470.00. Soon after, church members granted the trustees of Oakdale High School, the first high school in Tarkington Prairie, permission to use the old church building, while the members moved into their newly constructed second church building. Over the years, Rural Shade has completed several building projects and renovations, including adding a third church building in 1938, a baptistry in 1945, a fourth church building in 1962, a youth wing in 1993, and a fifth building in 2005, which also serves as the church's current worship center. Remarkably, over the last 151 years, the church has remained on the same tract of land.

Early pastors were elected from the church's men each year until 1898 when pastors were first called to stay for an indefinite period. In 1944, the church hired its first full-time pastor. Former Pastors of Rural Shade Baptist Church include: D. D. Forman, B.F. Ellis Jr., J.M.A. Black, D.W. Jackson, J.A. Lee, O.P. Chambers, H.C. Morrison, J.W. Thomas, E. Loose, J.B. Marshall, J.L. Watson, J.E. Mott, J.H.H. Ellis, B.S. Franklin, T.J. Fouts, J.F. High, Henry Jones, W.H. Jones, R.W. Smith, R.J. McGinty, D.P. McGowan, H.C. Philips, W.A. Smith, H.R. Pressley, Bert Mattingly, W.A. Curtis, H.R. Pressley, D.L. Sinclair, G.M. Coe, Earl Hahn, R.L. Self, LeRoy Cooper, C.D. Sowell, Dale Mingus, John Garrett, J.B. Grimes, Albert Foster, Earl Be Iver, and Byron Reeves. Since 2016, Brad Dancer has served as the church's pastor.

Over the past two decades, Rural Shade Baptist Church has aided the community tremendously in response to natural disasters. In 2005, 2008, and 2016, individuals were sheltered and housed after the devastating aftermaths of hurricanes Rita, Ike, and Harvey. During Hurricane Harvey, the church assisted with high water rescues, saving individuals from flooding homes and buildings. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the church joined the Houston Food Bank and distributed $3 million worth of food to local families in need. In fact, for his outstanding leadership and service to his community, Pastor Dancer was awarded the Citizen of the Year in 2020 by the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Rural Shade Baptist Church on reaching their Sesquicentennial last year and their 151st anniversary this year. Over the past century and a half, the Lord has certainly used this historic church to demonstrate the love, kindness, and generosity of Jesus Christ to the good people of Southeast Texas. I am privileged to represent such a devoted and faithful place of worship in my district.

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