[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 135 (Friday, September 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
      CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF SERENITY BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______


                            HON. HERB KLEIN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 23, 1994

  Mr. KLEIN. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, September 24, 1994, I will have 
the honor of joining the Serenity Baptist Church as it celebrates its 
15th anniversary. I am delighted to have the opportunity to pay tribute 
to the church by entering the complete history of Serenity Baptist 
Church provided to me by Pastor Newsome in today's Congressional 
Record.

       Serenity Baptist Church is an American Baptist Congregation 
     of approximately 200 members that was established fifteen 
     years ago on September 29, 1979 at an organizational meeting 
     in the home of the Reverend J. Worthem, the church's first 
     pastor.
       Until the church could purchase its present edifice at 142 
     North First Street in Paterson, services, meetings, and choir 
     rehearsals were held in several locations throughout the 
     Paterson area such as: Star Hope Mission, Riverside Baptist 
     Church, and the home of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morgan.
       The Church was blessed to acquire the edifice in which it 
     now meets for worship in 1981. Then in 1986, due to hard work 
     and the faithfulness of the membership, God bestowed a 
     special blessing upon this congregation and enabled it to 
     retire the mortgage of the church in only five years.
       Serenity became affiliated with the American Baptist 
     Churches of New Jersey (ABCNJ), Paterson Pastor's Workshop, 
     the NAACP, the Passaic County Black Caucus, the North Jersey 
     Clergy Association, and the Progressive Baptist Convention.
       Over the past fifteen years, Serenity has assisted in the 
     needs of community based organizations such as Habitat for 
     Humanity in providing them the use of church facilities in 
     support of their annual walk for the homeless; supported the 
     Paterson Partnership Community Programs by providing meeting 
     space for the Riverside Neighborhood Coalition. Serenity 
     continues to assist in providing service to the community 
     through its outreach programs such as S.H.A.R.E. and a food 
     give-away program at the church. The church's concern for the 
     plight of the youth is met in part by IMANI, a rites of 
     passage program that addresses the issues concerning young 
     black males in the City of Paterson.
       On April 5, 1990 Serenity Baptist Church called Reverend 
     Newsome into service as Pastoral leader.
       Serenity is a church that stresses biblical study, 
     Christian fellowship, and spiritual service to our fellowman 
     and to each other.

  It is with great pleasure that I ask my colleagues to commemorate 
Serenity Baptist Church on the distinguished occasion of its 15th 
anniversary.

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