[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E738-E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            HONORING THE REVEREND DR. W. FRANKLYN RICHARDSON

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 1995
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I honor today 
a man of vision and commitment, the Reverend W. Franklyn Richardson.
  April 1995 marks 20 years since Reverend Richardson became pastor of 
historic Grace Baptist Church which is located in my district in Mount 
Vernon, NY. Grace Baptist Church, the largest church in Westchester 
County, has some 3,000 parishioners and in addition conducts a 
comprehensive outreach ministry to the surrounding community.
  Under Reverend Richardson's leadership, the congregation is involved 
in numerous programs and activities, such as providing food and 
clothing for the needy; ministering persons in prison, the sick and 
shut-in, senior citizens, the homeless and others; hosting a Christmas 
celebration and other programs for homeless and less privileged 
children; and sponsoring cultural and educational workshops and special 
events. Furthermore, Reverend Richardson led the congregation in the 
completion of a $4.2 million restoration and expansion of the church 
facilities; and recently initiated the construction of an $11 million 
100-unit housing facility in Mount Vernon for senior citizens called 
Grace House.
  And while he has cared for his flock in Mount Vernon, Dr. Richardson 
has also been 
[[Page E739]] a leader on the national and international level. For the 
past 12 years Dr. Richardson served as the general secretary of the 
National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. Inc. He was elected to this 
prestigious office in September 1982. The National Baptist Convention 
consists of more than 30,000 churches and 8 million Baptist members 
across the country. He is also a member of the general council of the 
Baptist World Alliance. In May 1983, he was elected to the governing 
board of the National Council of Churches representing more than 400 
million Christians from 150 countries.
  As a world-renowned minister, Dr. Richardson has preached and 
travelled extensively on six continents, including Africa, Asia, 
Australia, Europe, and North and South America. In February 1980, Dr. 
Richardson was selected as a member of the 1980 preaching team of the 
foreign mission board of countries on the continent of Africa. Since 
1982, he has served as the L.G. Jordan lecturer in the laymen's 
department of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. In 
addition, he has crossed the nation and the world speaking at churches, 
conventions, colleges and universities.
  I am personally honored to join with Reverend Richardson's 
parishioners, family, friends and neighbors in this 20th anniversary 
celebration.


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