[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE TRUE VINE BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the True Vine 
Baptist Church of Houston, as they celebrate their 58th anniversary. 
This church has dedicated itself not only to the enlightenment of its 
parishioners, but to providing guidance and leadership to the young 
people of our community.
  The True Vine Baptist Church has for years drawn parishioners from 
across the State with inspired sermons, but is now recognized also for 
its dedication to providing discipline and support for our young 
people. Pastors Jesse Johnson, Jr. and Harry Jackson well know how 
simple instruction and guidance from the church can make a huge 
difference in young people's lives. Mr. Johnson likes to tell the story 
of a young boy who told him of his dream to become a doctor. When 
pastor Johnson asked what field he wanted to study, the boy was unsure. 
Johnson told the young boy that vagueness and lack of direction would 
not get him far in the field of medicine. Only with focus and sense of 
purpose can you achieve success in life.
  Pastors Johnson, Jackson, and the people of the True Vine Baptist 
Church are building a better future for Houston because they are 
instilling in these young people a sense of purpose and duty to their 
community. The church works with those who fear they cannot make 
anything of their lives and gives them a better sense of self and a 
stake in the future of their community. Pastors Johnson and Jackson use 
their hands-on approach to build a congregation of good citizens, one 
parishioner at a time.
  Pastors Johnson and Jackson know it is not enough just to talk to 
young people and tell them to feel better about themselves. To build a 
sense of self-worth and duty, they know that opportunities and 
activities must be available to our young people, to keep them off the 
streets. To this end, they hope to purchase property adjoining their 
church to build a gymnasium so that they can sponsor more activities 
for the neighborhood and provide more kids with a place to enjoy 
themselves in safety. They hope to establish a true vine scholarship 
program to give more youth the opportunity to get the education they 
need to succeed in life. By working so hard to build a brighter future 
of young people, the True Vine Baptist Church is showing us all what it 
takes to build better communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the True Vine Baptist Church as they 
celebrate their 58th anniversary. I wish them further success in 
providing the young people of Houston the leadership and spiritual 
guidance they need to build a better future.

                          ____________________