[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 122 (Tuesday, August 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF DR. TOM WALLACE AND FRANKLIN ROAD BAPTIST 
                                 CHURCH

                                 ______


                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 23, 1994

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, 5 days from now, Franklin Road Baptist 
Church in Murfreesboro will celebrate not only its 40th anniversary, 
but also the 40th anniversary of its pastor, Dr. Tom Wallace, as a 
member of the clergy.
  Brother Wallace has devoted 40 years of his life preaching, helping 
those in need and working to create a true international congregation 
through missionary work. He has been at Franklin Road Baptist Church 
since September 1992 along with his wife, Janith. They have four 
children, two daughters and two sons, all of whom are married.
  Brother Wallace did not know from the beginning that he would enter 
the clergy. As a young man, he worked at the GMC automobile plant in 
Pennsylvania. It was not until a few years later, after marriage, that 
he entered Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga.
  From there, Brother Wallace had his first pastorate in Maryland. It 
was a long road to Tennessee, beginning in Maryland, continuing through 
Kentucky, and then most of the United States while he traveled as an 
evangelist preacher for nearly a decade.
  However, he quickly found his place in Murfreesboro as the president 
of the Franklin Road Baptist School, as a leading supporter of the 
Union Mission in Nashville where he volunteers and as an active member 
of the Baptist International Missions Inc. Through this organization, 
he has spoken at missions in Asia, Africa, and South America, where he 
leads efforts to build a better life for the impoverished.
  Franklin Road Baptist Church may be fortunate to have Brother 
Wallace, but he is also lucky to have found his way to Tennessee. In 
the 40 years since the church was built, it has been a powerful force 
in Murfreesboro. The school and the church were built to demonstrate a 
faith in people and a faith in God. The school was founded for our 
youth in order to provide them with a sound education and principles; 
the church was founded for everyone to share in order to establish a 
close community. I can confirm that these philosophies are alive and 
working from the welcoming faces and warm hearts that greet me when I 
come home.
  This Sunday, August 28, Murfreesboro will celebrate with Franklin 
Road Baptist Church. That morning, the 10:30 service will be dedicated 
to the newly built Sunday Schoolrooms, fellowship hall, nursery, and 
church staff office. Brother Wallace's predecessor, Dr. Bob Kelley, who 
was with the church for 17 years, will be the special speaker. In the 
evening at 6:30, the congregation will celebrate with Brother Wallace, 
his children and nine grandchildren.
  Please join me in remembering Franklin Road Baptist Church and Dr. 
Tom Wallace on their 40th anniversary and in thanking them for all they 
continue to offer to Murfreesboro.

                          ____________________