[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING GREATER ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hayworth). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Chambliss] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to 
congratulate the Reverend Nehemiah Collins and the members of his 
congregation at the Antioch Baptist Church in Macon, GA as this weekend 
they celebrate the 125th anniversary of their church. Antioch Baptist 
Church was founded in 1872 in a place in Bloomfield, which is a portion 
of Macon, then called Forks Creek. The church was later moved to the 
present location on Antioch Road.
  This church has been a beacon light of hope throughout the community 
in striving to influence others to accept Christ as their personal 
saviour and to live an exemplary life as we walk among others who have 
already confessed Him as their saviour.
  Antioch Baptist Church has made great strides during these 125 years 
in the spreading of the good news to mankind. One thing that is 
extremely unusual about Antioch Baptist Church is that though it has 
been in existence for 125 years, it has only had 5 pastors.
  The current pastor, the Reverend Nehemiah Collins, is entering his 
26th year as pastor of that church. However, he is not the longest 
serving pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, for the Reverend E.W. Hoyt, 
the third pastor of this great church, served his congregation for a 
total of 52 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize not only Reverend Collins but 
Deacons Joe Heggs, Sorrell Acree, B.T. Reid, James Wimberly, Harold 
Murphy, and all the members of the congregation of this fine religious 
organization on the 125th anniversary.
  I will be very pleased on Sunday afternoon to participate in the 
service at Antioch Baptist Church, and I want to enter into the Record 
a proclamation that I will be delivering Sunday afternoon. This is 
addressed to the Reverend Collins.

       It is indeed an honor for me to personally deliver 
     greetings to the Greater Antioch Baptist Church congregation 
     on this most historic day, the church's 125th anniversary.
       Since its founding in 1872 at Forks Creek in the Bloomfield 
     area of Macon, Greater Antioch Baptist Church has served as a 
     beacon light of hope throughout the community in striving to 
     influence others to accept Christ as their personal saviour.
       The church has made great strides during its 125 years. The 
     accomplishments you and the 4 previous pastors have made to 
     the church and the Macon/Bibb County community are far too 
     extensive to recount here, but rest assured that they are 
     widely known and universally appreciated.
       My wife Julianne and my entire family join me in extending 
     to the entire Greater Antioch Baptist Church community our 
     very warmest congratulations and best wishes.

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