[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING PASTOR KIRBYJON H. AND SUZETTE TURNER CALDWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pastor and Mrs. 
Kirbyjon Caldwell for their years of service and dedication to the 
Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. In honor of 
Pastor and Mrs. Caldwell, the Windsor Village Community hosted the 
``20th Anniversary Celebration: Recognizing Their Spiritual 
Leadership'' on July 19, 2002.
  A native Texan, Pastor Caldwell was educated in the Houston public 
school system, earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from 
Carleton College in 1975, and a Masters Degree in Business 
Administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of 
Business in 1977. After graduate school, Pastor Caldwell began a 
promising career in investment banking. But, in an effort to fulfill 
God's purpose for his life, Pastor Caldwell enrolled into Southern 
Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, where he received a 
Masters Degree in Theology in 1981. While completing his theology 
degree, Pastor Caldwell was appointed Associate Pastor of St. Mary's 
United Methodist Church in Houston and in less than a year he was 
appointed Senior Pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church.
  Since his first sermon at Windsor Village in 1982, Pastor Caldwell 
has dedicated himself to addressing the needs of his congregation. The 
growth and success that Windsor Village has experienced under Pastor 
Caldwell's leadership reveals a pastor who is truly connected to his 
community and committed to the church's prosperity. Under his 
pastorship, the Windsor Village membership has grown from 25 to over 
14,000, and the average worship attendance has increased from 12 to 
6,450. The Church includes over 120 ministries, which serve the 
community seven days a week.
  The spiritual leadership at Windsor Village serves as a beacon for 
the Houston community. With such facilities as the Power Center, the 
Prayer Center and the Family Life Center, the congregation's sense of 
community activism and outreach provides an ideal model of service to 
the surrounding community. The Power Center, developed in conjunction 
with the Windsor Village Church Family and the Pyramid Community 
Development Corporation, houses numerous services and entities, such as 
the Imani School, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, Houston Community College's 
Business Technology Center, the University of Texas-Hermann Hospital 
Clinic, W.A.M. Inc, and 27 business suites. Additionally, the church 
recently broke ground for a 234 acre master-planned community which 
will consist of a 452 single family home residential community with a 
12 acre community park, a YMCA, an independent living facility, the 
Comprehensive Wellness Center, the Zina Garrison Tennis Center, and two 
museums.
  Pastor Caldwell's contributions extend far beyond his pastoral 
duties. He is the author of the best seller, The Gospel of Good 
Success, which serves as a road map to spiritual, emotional, and 
financial wholeness. Newsweek identified Pastor Caldwell as a member of 
``The Century Club,'' and the magazine's 100 people to watch in the 
21st century. Throughout his years of service to his ministry and the 
community, Pastor Caldwell has received numerous accolades, including 
Community Partners' Father of the Year, Texas Monthly's Twenty Most 
Influential Texans, the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, and 
the Bishop's Award for Outstanding Leadership in Evangelism.
  Aside from the monumental work he has done for Windsor Village, 
Pastor Caldwell, is involved in a number of civic and business ventures 
that impact the community. He serves on the board of the National 
Children's Defense Fund, the Greater Houston Partnership, Continental 
Airlines, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor College of 
Medicine, to name a few.
  Pastor and Mrs. Caldwell have been married for 11 years and are the 
proud parents of Turner, Nia and Alexander Caldwell. Mrs. Suzette 
Caldwell graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of 
Science in Industrial Engineering, where she is currently pursuing a 
graduate school in social work. Mrs. Caldwell's professional career as 
an environmental engineer in the public and private sector spans over 
17 years.
  Suzette Caldwell has made her own significant imprint upon the 
Windsor Village community. Presently, she serves as a local pastor and 
the Director of the Supernatural Services. In addition, she serves as 
the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Kingdom Builders' Prayer 
Institute, a non-profit community-based organization that focuses on 
teaches people how to pray and the effectiveness of prayer. Among 
others, she serves as a member of the Children's Museum of Houston 
Advisory Board, a member of the Teach for America Advisory Board, and 
member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Her dedication to 
service is exemplified by the numerous recognitions she has received 
over the years, including, The National Association of 100 Black 
Women's Makeda Award, The Suburban Sugar Land Women's Community Service 
Award, The Samaritan Center's Samaritan Spirit Award, Philanthropy In 
Texas' Hall of Fame, and the US Army Corps of Engineers' Achievement 
Award for Special Acts of Service.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout Kirbyjon and Suzette Caldwell's service to 
the Windsor Village United Methodist Community, their wisdom, 
enthusiasm, and vision, have served their congregation and its 
surrounding community well. Their dedication to the community and 
commitment to their neighbors sets them apart as the spark that keeps 
faith aglow. I want to congratulate the Caldwell's on their twenty 
years of service to the Windsor Village Methodist Church and thank them 
for their service to our community, state and nation.

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