[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ``PROJECT 2000''--A NATIONAL MODEL FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT

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                        HON. HAROLD E. FORD, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent, friend 
and esteemed member of the clergy from Tennessee's Ninth District, 
Reverend Bill Adkins.
  On Wednesday, March 15, Reverend Adkins announced an ambitious 
project in Memphis that will bring together people of faith from across 
the city, from all dominations, to address our community's most 
pressing needs. Entitled ``Project 2000,'' the initiative would begin 
on Easter Sunday and continue throughout the year. Participating 
churches would set aside the receipt from one Sunday's collection for a 
special community project.
  Reverend Adkins described this initiative best when he urged his 
fellow clergy to join him in his cause:
  ``We pray about poverty, housing, incarceration, illnesses and the 
lack of jobs, and we should. But what are the churches doing? Why can't 
we take one Sunday out of 52 and do something together for the 
betterment of the community? One hundred churches alone in Memphis 
could generate several million dollars.'' (Source: The Commercial 
Appeal, March 16, 1999)
  ``Project 2000'' exemplifies the American ideals of community and 
mutual responsibility. As Americans, we should not live as individuals 
in isolation, but as members of a community, working together to solve 
our common problems. In our labors, we should draw on the spiritual, 
moral, intellectual and financial strength of our church community. 
There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we marshal the good 
will and resources of the more than 150 million people of faith who 
attend weekly services in over 300,000 congregations in the United 
States.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me today in honoring 
Reverend Adkins and ``Project 2000.'' But more than that, Mr. Speaker, 
I believe the best tribute to Reverend Adkins and ``Project 2000'' 
would be for all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
introduce this unique initiative to their constituents. I have included 
a copy of a recent news article describing this initiative and ask that 
it be included in the Record.

              [From The Commercial Appeal, Mar. 16, 1999]

                   Churches Asked To Donate A Sunday

                           (By David Waters)

       Monday, he was on the radio rallying citizens to do 
     something positive for the oft-maligned neighborhood of 
     Whitehaven.
       Tuesday, he was at the City Council meeting, lobbying 
     council members to do something to fix a voting plan he 
     thinks is unfair.
       Wednesday, he held a press conference and challenged his 
     congregation and others to do something collectively to help 
     the community.
       ``We pray about poverty, housing, incarceration, illness 
     and the lack of jobs, and we should,'' Rev. Bill Adkins, 
     pastor of Greater Imani Church, said as he presented his idea 
     for Project 2000.
       ``But what are the churches doing?''
       Adkins suggested that, starting next year, all local 
     churches contribute one Sunday's receipts to a special 
     community project.
       The first Project 2000 Sunday could be Jan. 30, 2000, the 
     fifth Sunday of that month.
       ``Most churches consider fifth Sundays as gravy,'' Adkins 
     said.
       ``Why can't we take one Sunday out of 52 and do something 
     together for the betterment of the community?''
       Adkins would like to get representatives from each 
     participating congregation to form a board to choose a 
     Project 2000 recipient.
       ``One hundred churches alone in Memphis could generate 
     several million dollars,'' he said.
       ``The church, especially the traditional black church, has 
     the might to bring resurrection power to this community.''
       Adkins said Project 2000 will begin on Easter Sunday.
       Easter this year falls on April 4 for the first time since 
     Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed on that date in Memphis 
     in 1968.
       To commemorate that date, Adkins said Greater Imani will 
     celebrate Easter at the Mid-South Coliseum this year. The 
     service will begin at 9 a.m.

     

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