[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to bring to your 
attention that on September 19, 2003 the Zion Missionary Baptist Church 
of Saginaw, MI, celebrated their 135th year of praising and serving the 
Lord. The Church commemorated this milestone with a series of 
festivities, which included an old fashion worship service and play 
depicting the Church's history. The Church will conclude the 
celebration in December with a musical and All States Day.
  Psalms 48:1-2 states ``Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised 
in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, 
the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, 
the city of the great King.'' Zion Missionary Baptist Church was 
organized in 1868 with a membership of fifty. The Church family has 
grown considerably over the last 135 years. They have been blessed with 
eight different pastors, each one expressing a desire to see the church 
grow spiritually and physically. The most noted of these leaders is 
Reverend Roosevelt Austin, Sr., he became pastor in 1956, at a time 
when the Church was experiencing financial difficulty. Through prayer 
and perseverance, Reverend Austin balanced the Church books, and 
inspired the Church members to pledge toward a new building and 
expanded educational facility. Reverend Austin remained Pastor of Zion 
for 44 years, and at retirement the Church debt was paid in full. The 
Lord continued to send great leaders to Zion, in May of 2001 a young 
minister by the name of Reverend Rodrick Smith from Shreveport, LA 
answered the call, he was ordained by Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in 
Benton, LA in 1993. Under the direction of Reverend Smith the Church is 
continuing to expand and build upon the name of the Lord. Zion 
Missionary Baptist Church currently has 650 faithful followers of 
Christ. The Church thrives on the premise that the Holy Spirit and the 
Word of God should guide them, and the Pastor and Official Staff should 
work together in complete harmony. This firm belief has brought this 
Church through many trials. Zion Missionary Baptist Church is a dynamic 
force for the public good. They have consistently made a difference in 
the Saginaw area.
  The inspiration for living by Christian ideals is repeated again and 
again in the lives of the ministers and congregation of this Church. 
Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress, I ask that my colleagues in the 
108th Congress join me in saluting Zion Missionary Baptist Church for 
135 years of celebrating and spreading the word of the Lord to the 
community of Saginaw, MI.

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