[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING A CENTENNIAL OF WORSHIP

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 1995

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, worship and the peaceful sanctuary of a 
place of worship are tremendously valuable in our lives, and 
particularly at times of challenge or conflict. For the members of the 
Christian Assembly Church in Bay City, MI, they have had the good 
fortune to enjoy the stability of being in one location for 100 years. 
This anniversary is being celebrated this weekend with a round of 
events that truly signify the importance of this church.
  Founded in 1879 by Walter Sims, this church has been of great 
importance to thousands of people in Bay City over the years. The 
church moved to its current location in 1895 to respond to growing 
needs, and has prospered in the intervening years.
  Probably one of the most important aspects of the Christian Assembly 
Church is its sense of community and service from within. In fact, 
until 1960, every single pastor of the church had come from within the 
church itself. There have been only 11 pastors in the history of the 
church, starting with Walter Sims, 1879-1916; and continuing with Luke 
Prine, 1916-1919; Robert McCullough, 1922-1923; Charles Doan, 1923-
1935; Roscoe Roeder, 1935-1959; D. Neil Neuenschwander, 1960-1965; Earl 
Van Houghton, 1966-1970; William Severance, 1970-1977; Arnold Gibson, 
1978-1985; Jim Salo, 1985-1987; and the current pastor since 1988, 
Larry Kirkpatrick.
  The ministry at the church has been involved in a number of important 
activities over its time. The church in its early years had a school, 
covering elementary grades and also providing a trade school, 
particularly for printing. Before the advent of government assistance 
programs, the church and its members took it upon themselves to provide 
a welfare program for widows and other needy individuals. And every 
year the church has been involved in a created-for-caring Christmas 
tree that has helped provide a reminder that the purpose of this 
holiday is giving of oneself for the benefit of others.
  How right the English jurist John Selden was when he said, in part, 
``A glorious Church is like a magnificent feast.'' The members of the 
Christian Assembly Church have been feasting for a century on 
blessings, good will, commitment, and the recognition that we all must 
be prepared to answer for our lives when all is said and done. They 
have always left a place at their table for others to join in, and are, 
I know, more willing than ever to make that table even larger, 
especially at the time of this centennial of worship at their East 
Vermont location in Bay City.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
wishing Pastor Kirkpatrick and all of the members of the Christian 
Assembly Church, a most joyous anniversary, with the best hopes for the 
next century of the Church's dedication to service.

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