[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E597-E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO REV. JAMES ARNOLD KUYKENDALL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 1998

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the 
Reverend James Arnold Kuykendall of Paterson, New Jersey. Reverend 
Kuykendall who, this evening, is being conferred an honorary 
``Doctorate of Divinity'' degree from Shiloh Theological Seminary.
  James Arnold Kuykendall was born on December 8, 1952 in Paterson, New 
Jersey. His parents were the late James Kuykendall of Oakland, 
Mississippi, and the late Mattie Burns-Kuykendall of Whitehall, South 
Carolina. Reverend Kuykendall was educated in the public schools of 
Paterson and attended Montclair State College, Ramapo College, as well 
as Gilmore Memorial and Hawthorne Bible Institutes.
  Reverend Kuykendall began serving the local church as a member of the 
Junior Usher and Deacon Boards at Gilmore Memorial Tabernacle Church of 
God in Christ. In 1977 he rededicated his life to Christ, became 
Assistant Choir Director, and served as Youth Minister.
  Reverend Kuykendall preached his first sermon in 1983 and received 
his ministerial license in April of that same year. He later served as 
associate minister at Gazaway Baptist Church under the pastorate of Dr. 
Lester I. Glover, and was ordained in December 1985.
  Reverend Kuykendall is the founder and Pastor of the Agape Christian 
Ministry of Paterson. Agape Christian Ministry is an interracial, non-
denominational church established on March 1, 1987. The first service 
was held in the home of Mrs. Margaret Hicks, at 19th Avenue and East 
33rd Street in Paterson. The congregation began with seven people and 
has since grown to include over one thousand members.

[[Page E598]]

  On February 16, 1973 Reverend Kuykendall was sworn into active duty 
in the United States Army. He served in the capacity as a Finance and 
Accounting Clerk, and did an overseas tour of duty with the 8th Army in 
Seoul, Korea for 24 months. He was later transferred to stateside duty 
in Fort Knox, Kentucky, until being honorably discharged on October 22, 
1976.
  Reverend Kuykendall has an extensive record of community service 
which began with him serving as a county committee person for the 6th 
District, 4th Ward in Paterson, and later as district leader. He was 
also a Commissioner of the Rent Leveling Board and Commissioner of the 
Parking Authority in the City of Paterson. Reverend Kuykendall has 
served as an aide to the Honorable Martin G. Barnes, and presently 
serves as an aide to Assemblyman Alfred E. Steele.
  Reverend Kuykendall is also serving as assistant treasurer to the 
Congress of National Black Churches--Paterson affiliate, and renders 
pastoral care at Barnert Memorial Hospital. He is a member of the Board 
of Directors of Eva's Village Sheltering program, the Youth Services 
Commission of Passaic County, and a volunteer minister in the New 
Jersey Superior Court--Passaic County Division, Minister's program.
  Reverend Kuykendall is a charter board member of the Fellowship of 
Inner City Word of Faith Ministries under leadership of Dr. Frederick 
K.C. Price, the Kingdom Council of Interdependent Christian Churches 
and Ministries under the leadership of Reverend Dr. David M. Copeland, 
and serves on the board of directors of both organizations. Reverend 
Kuykendall is currently the executive vice-president of the Paterson 
Pastor's Workshop Minister's Association and has served as the chairman 
of the Political Screening Committee of that organization. He is the 
Chief Executive Officer of the Agape Christian Ministries Scholarship 
Fund, which provides scholarships to senior high school students of the 
City of Paterson, is the Senior Pastor of the Agape Fellowship 
Association of Churches, and is a member of the board of directors at 
the Agape Pre-School Child Development Center.
  Reverend Kuykendall is married to Minister Kathy A. Ivy Kuykendall of 
Paterson. They are the proud parents of one daughter, Tanisha Vonetta, 
and the adoring grandparents of Tera Trae Samuels.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, the family and 
friends of Reverend Kuykendall, and the City of Paterson, in 
recognizing Reverend James Arnold Kuykendall's many outstanding and 
invaluable contributions made to the City of Paterson and the State of 
New Jersey.

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