[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 161 (Wednesday, October 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E 1977]]


        REPRESENTATIVE MEEK HONORS REV. DR. WALTER T. RICHARDSON

                                 ______


                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 18, 1995

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this weekend Rev. Walter T. 
Richardson, pastor of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church in Perrine, 
FL, will simultaneously receive a Ph.D. degree in biblical counseling 
from Trinity Theological Seminary of Newburgh, IN, and celebrate his 
12th year as a pastor. I would like to congratulate him on his two 
great achievements and thank him for the long years of service in the 
Miami area.
  Reverend Richardson has served our community with great energy and 
success. He sits on the Board of Trustees of Miami Dade Community 
College and the Board of Directors of the New World School of the Arts. 
He is a member of the St. Thomas University Human Rights Institute and 
the Miami Coalition for a Drug Free Community. He has served as 
president of the West Perrine Christian Assocation, Co-Chair of the 
board of directors for We Will Rebuild, on the executive committee of 
the Miami NAACP, and numerous other positions. He has received awards 
too numerous to mention, but which include the 1993 NAACP Outstanding 
Service Award, the 1992 Orange Bowl Committee Hurricane Hero Award, the 
1991 Thomas Dorsey Award of Excellence, and the 1985 Miami Herald 
Outstanding Black Achievers Award.
  Guided by Reverend Richardson, Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church 
is a multicultural, racially integrated congregation consisting of 
African-Americans, whites, and Hispanics. Serving as pastor for the 
last 12 years, Reverend Richardson has been responsbile for the growth 
of the church from a small congregation of 200 to the 1,200 worshippers 
who currently attend Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church.
  Reverend Richardson's accomplishments in the academic field are as 
equally impressive. He graduated cum laude from St. Thomas University 
with a B.A. in religious studies. From St. Thomas, he also earned his 
master's degree in pastoral ministries. Prior to working toward a Ph.D, 
Reverend Richardson did graduate work in philosophy at the University 
of Miami and in theology at Gammon Theological Seminary.
  Walter T. Richardson, Reverend, pastor, community servant, and now 
Doctor, has dedicated over 26 years to the Christian Ministry and to 
the community around him. He has helped people physically, mentally, 
and spiritually. He has dedicated his time, efforts, and his life to 
improving other's lives. I offer Reverend Richardson my sincere 
congratulations for his acomplishments and my deepest thanks for his 
long years of dedicated service to our community.

                          ____________________