[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 169 (Friday, December 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 15 YEARS OF REVEREND DR. KENNY SMITH'S PASTORSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2001

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great 
citizen of Northern Virginia, Reverend Dr. Kenny Smith. He is currently 
serving as pastor at the First Baptist Church of Vienna, Virginia. 
Along with celebrating Rev. Smith's 15 years of service, the Church is 
celebrating its 134th anniversary of serving the community.
  Rev. Kenny Smith is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and attended 
the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Howard University, and Virginia Union 
University.
  His resume includes a great deal of other accomplishments. Most 
recently, he received the Dean's Pastor's Award from the Dean of Howard 
University's School of Theology and the Outstanding Achievement in 
Religion Award from the Howard University Alumni Club of Northern 
Virginia. He is a well traveled man as well. He visited Israel, the 
seven churches mentioned in Revelation (Turkey), the Isle of Patmos 
(Greece), as well as 8 other countries.
  Reverend Smith currently serves on the General Board of the Baptist 
General Convention in Richmond, Virginia. He is also on the Board of 
Directors for Habitat for Humanity. Previously, he held a position with 
the Fairfax County Branch of the NAACP.
  Through his leadership, the First Baptist Church has continued its 
excellence in serving the community. One organization that the church 
is constantly willing to support is Habitat for Humanity. The members 
of the church have assisted in building many homes for families in 
need. The church even helped with the cost of the supplies.
  In 1996, members of the church traveled to South Carolina to help in 
the rebuilding of churches, after several were burned down by acts of 
arson. And under the guidance of Rev. Smith, members of the church 
went, along with another local church, to Haiti on a missionary 
project.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to send my best wishes to Reverend 
Dr. Kenny Smith for his 15th anniversary with the First Baptist Church 
of Vienna and wish him the best in his future endeavors. It's been said 
that a good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a 
little less than his share of the credit. This is the kind of selfless 
humility that has characterized Reverend Smith's tenure at his church. 
I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating this fine citizen.

                          ____________________