[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1447-E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to congratulate the New Hope Baptist Church of Newark, NJ. 
On Sunday, September 15, 1996, they will celebrate the 93rd Founder's 
Day and Mortgage Burning Service. I ask my colleagues to join with me 
in praising their diligence and applaud them on a job well done. Their 
level of community service is phenomenal and the 10th District of New 
Jersey is fortunate to have this church as one of our own.
  New Hope Baptist Church was organized in 1903 by two sisters, Addie 
and Maggie Divine. Their first pastor was Reverend Jesse Williams. The 
current pastor, Rev. Charles Everett Thomas, began his tenure position 
at New

[[Page E1448]]

Hope Baptist Church in 1968 and 10 years later he began a fundraising 
project to expand the church. They have shown that this is a church 
with the open door that administers to the needs of the whole man.
  The members and supporters of the church have worked diligently for 
several years to realize their dream. Expansions and overall growth 
culminated in their final move, on September 13, 1987 into their new 
edifice.
  This church has reached out to the community with a day care center, 
an apartment complex, a food and clothing ministry, and a minority 
trade training program. Their support of the community has been stellar 
and this is part of what makes their success and growth so exciting. As 
we witness the growing number of churches being burned around this 
Nation and communities being engulfed by fear it is encouraging to see 
a mortgage burning instead of a church burning.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating New 
Hope Baptist Church on their 93rd Founder's Day and Mortgage Burning 
Ceremony. May God continue to bless the members of New Hope Baptist 
Church.

                          ____________________