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Congressional Daily Record
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September 15, 2026
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. CLEO FIELDS
of louisiana
in the house of representatives
Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Evening Star Baptist Church. In 1889, Green Dyer and Harrison Davis settled in the community now known as Baker, Louisiana. In 1890, there was no place to worship within the community, therefore, the new families traveled to Holly Grove Baptist Church or sometimes traveled to the Chaneyville Community to worship. The men traveled by horses to their former communities for service on Sundays. The women started a prayer meeting at the home of Mrs. Fannie Davis. The prayer meetings were so inspirational and uplifting that the women decided to hold their prayer meetings in the afternoons when the men returned.
organize a church naming it `Evening Star Baptist Church' after witnessing a falling star in the sky. Green Dyer confessed his calling to minister God's word, and Evening Star Baptist Church ordained Reverend Green Dyer and installed him as their first pastor. He gave one-half acre of land, and Henry Davis gave one-fourth acre of land to build the first sanctuary of Evening Star. The building was twenty-four feet long and eighteen feet wide.
In September 1909, a storm destroyed the church. This was a great burden on Reverend Green Dyer's heart; and, in 1910, he died before the church was re-erected. He served as pastor of Evening Star for 15 years. Following Reverend Dyer's death, Reverend Jack Mitchell was elected pastor and served only one year. Reverends Bosky and Henry Millican served as acting pastors for short periods.
of Evening Star. Reverend Youngblood served with commitment and dedication for 46 years. During the latter years of his pastorship, he became ill. Reverend Thomas J. Carter was ordained and elected assistant pastor to the aging Pastor Youngblood and served as assistant for 11 years.
On July 15, 1959, Reverend Thomas J. Carter was elected pastor. In 1962, under Reverend Carter's leadership, a new sanctuary was built at the present location Sister Florence Dyer Todd donated the land for the new sanctuary. Reverend Carter served Evening Star for 25 years. He died January 15, 1984. Reverend Lionel Lee, Sr. became an associate minister under Reverend Carter and served for eight years. After Reverend Carter's death, during the summer of 1984, Reverend Lionel Lee, Sr. was elected pastor.
member of the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association, Louisiana State Baptist Association, and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Reverend Green Dyer and Reverend George Youngblood served as Secretaries of the Fourth District Baptist Association. Pastor Lee continued this tradition by serving as secretary of the association for ten years and was named General Secretary Emeritus.
outreach, and ministries under Reverend Lee's leadership. Many milestones were accomplished, including paved parking lot and purchased van; outreach ministry to the nursing home and drug rehab center; Sisterhood and Brotherhood collaboration with Shady Grove First Baptist Church; establishment of male chorus and combined choirs; creation of the Board of Christian Education, Ushers' Ministry, and Deaconess Ministry; Pastor's Travel Expense Club; Church Mission Fund, Boy Scouts; Project Drug Free Lines; Saturday Street Prayer Ministry; Youth Council and Ministry; Summer Youth Employment; Summer Enrichment Program; Tutorial Program; Summer History Learning Project; Exercise Program; participation in local, state, national Congress of Christian Education, and international Baptist World Congress events; and rebuilding and renovating Evening Star Baptist Church from 1996 to 1997.
long-awaited project. Renovations began on July 8, 1996, and on August 17, 1997, the congregation moved into the new sanctuary. In July 2001, after serving seventeen years, Reverend Lionel Lee, Sr. was called to his reward. In December 2002, Reverend Dr. Roderick A. Betts was elected and installed as pastor. Under Reverend Betts' leadership, Evening Star replaced its organ and sound system, established an Inspirational Choir, revived the Liturgical Dance Team, held Saturday Intercessory Prayer, established an Oratorical Ministry, and formed a Women Choir.
its 129th Anniversary. It is a thriving community church under the leadership of Pastor Aldora Sanford, who has served this great church since 2012. I ask my colleagues to join me honoring Evening Star Baptist Church for over a century for service, fellowship, and spreading of the word of God.