Beyoncé and her girls were on hand to support housing in Houston.
During an appearance at the Oct. 13 grand opening of Knowles-Rowland House, a supportive housing development at St. John's United Methodist Church in Midtown Houston, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Kelly Rowland and Tina Knowles appeared as special guests and spoke about the significance of the project.
"I have so many memories here, and I want to thank [pastors] Juanita and Rudy because your prayers have held us up," Knowles-Carter said. "This church was our foundation. I was baptized right here. I made the choice on my own to be baptized because I felt the spirit here, and I feel the spirit right now."
The ribbon-cutting event was also attended by Beyoncé's daughters Blue Ivy, 14, and
Rumi Carter, 9. At the event, Blue wore a green Bape jersey and heels, her hair pulled back into a high ponytail with curls reminiscent of a young Beyoncé. Rumi wore a dark cardigan, matching tennis dress and white sneakers. Their mom wore a khaki wrap-around dress, coordinated with Rowland's tan pantsuit and black top, and Knowles' black suit.
The project, led by the longtime pastors of the church, Rudy and Juanita Rasmus, sits on the site of the original Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, built in 1999 with support from the Knowles family and Rowland, longtime church members, using funds from Destiny's Child's first single. The community center and shelter shut down in 2021 due to a fire and has been redeveloped as a 31-unit permanent housing development.
Rowland got emotional talking about the work the Rasmuses put into the project.
"What a legacy you've built. You both have built. I wrote something down, but I was like, that would be so whack if I actually read from that," she said. "As my Mama T said, the vision that you have for this space, thank you in advance. Mama, thank you for showing me what grace, generosity and giving, how it can bless you in such a way.
"To all the donors, just know, your life will be enriched in full, and you will forever be blessed just because you decided to invest in this space and to this vision right here. So continue to give, OK?" Rowland continued, eliciting laughter.
"Thank you to the city of Houston for just being such an anchor for us," she added. "God bless you, Pastor Rudy and Juanita. Thank you for being relentless and giving so much of yourselves. Look at what God has done."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blue Ivy, 14, towers over Beyoncé at Houston event – See the moment
