[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1153-E1154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING PASTOR FREDDIE GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY BONILLA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2001

  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pastor Freddie Garcia 
for his hard work and contributions made throughout Texas, New Mexico, 
California, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Pastor Garcia's 
hard work and commitment to God has improved and affected many lives.
  Pastor Freddie Garcia was born June 10th, 1938 in San Antonio, Texas. 
Growing up, Pastor Garcia faced many difficult situations; his largest 
obstacle was drug addiction. Pastor Garcia overcame his addiction to 
drugs upon finding and devoting his life to God. In June 1966, Pastor 
Freddie Garcia married his wife Ninfa. The two have been happily 
married and are committed to a life with God.
  Pastor Garcia graduated from the Latin American Bible Institute in 
California in 1970. In 1972, Pastor Freddie Garcia and Ninfa founded 
Victory Fellowship Outreach. The program provides teachings on issues 
such as: family, education, discipline, the church, and community while 
also focusing on individuals in need of reconciliation and 
rehabilitation. Victory Fellowship Outreach has cured over 13,000 
people from drug addiction.
  Within Victory Fellowship Outreach there are many other ministries 
that reach out to help troubled individuals. The Victory Home-Christian 
Rehabilitation Center is open 24 hours and located in drug infested 
areas of San Antonio. The Center feeds and houses women and men in need 
of shelter and healing from life-controlling addictions. The Center has 
expanded across the United States and abroad. The Victory Leadership 
Academy has a two-year curriculum designed to equip workers with the 
skills necessary to run Christian rehabilitation centers. These centers 
also exist across the United States and throughout the world. Campus 
Outreach is a Youth Task Force comprised of former gang members who 
confront and challenge both junior high and high school students with 
lectures, discussion panels, classroom participation, and one on one 
interaction to discuss the evils of gangs and drugs. Victory Fellowship 
Outreach also offers Drop-In Centers which are located within housing 
projects offering emergency housing for troubled individuals and Jail 
and Prison Ministries which provide inmates with personal visits and 
Bible Correspondence Courses.
  In 1988, Pastor Freddie Garcia published Outcry in the Barrio, an 
autobiography. In 1990 former President Bush presented him with the 
Achievement Against the Odds Award.

[[Page E1154]]

  Pastor Garcia is a model citizen helping others with troubled pasts 
and troubled lives become model citizens. I would like to thank Pastor 
Freddie Garcia and his wife Ninfa for all they do, have done and will 
continue to do in the name of God and a better America.

                          ____________________