[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING ALLEN TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Allen Temple Baptist 
Church of Oakland, California for 85 years of ministry and invaluable 
service to the community. Since its founding, Allen Temple has been a 
pillar of strength and leadership, and its tireless efforts have had a 
dramatic impact not only on the lives of its members, but on the entire 
Oakland and East Bay community.
  Allen Temple Baptist Church began as 85th Avenue Baptist Church in 
1919. The church was organized by the Reverend J.L. Allen, and was one 
of the first primarily African-American congregations in East Oakland. 
During the first several years following its establishment, 85th Avenue 
Baptist Church struggled to survive. However, the congregation 
gradually became stronger, and after moving to its current location on 
85th Avenue, was renamed in 1927 in honor of its founder. In the years 
that followed, Allen Temple not only expanded its membership, but also 
began establishing the first of the many community service programs for 
which it is now known.
  Allen Temple's current Pastor, a great and magnificent servant of 
God, Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr., was installed as the church's leader in 
1969, and brought with him the sense of energy and direction that would 
serve not only to rejuvenate the church's existing programs, but to 
initiate several new ones. The Pastoral Staff was organized, which not 
only increased the scope and effectiveness of the church's operations, 
but which today has grown to include over a dozen ministries. In the 
decades that followed, Allen Temple's presence within the community 
would become even stronger as it continued to establish initiatives 
such as the Allen Temple Baptist Church Federal Credit Union, the 
senior and disabled housing facilities at Allen Temple Arms I-III, the 
Radio Ministry, and the Allen Temple Hispanic Ministry. In addition, 
the church went onto establish the Allen Temple Community Outreach 
Center, the Allen Temple Family Life Center, the Leadership Institute, 
and Allen Temple Manor, a 24-unit building of affordable housing for 
persons who are disabled due to HIV/AIDS.
  In recent years, Allen Temple's involvement has become increasingly 
vital in the support and guidance of individuals recently released from 
prison, and those who are HIV positive or living with AIDS. The Dr. J. 
Alfred Smith, Sr. Training Academy provides job training to dozens of 
parolees each year. The Allen Temple AIDS Ministry works to provide 
spiritual support and essential medical and social services to those 
living with HIV and AIDS, and works with the Alameda County AIDS 
Interface to make these services more widely available.
  On October 17, 2004, Allen Temple Baptist Church will celebrate its 
85-year anniversary in Oakland, California. I would like to honor this 
occasion by commending the church for the vital role it has played not 
only as a great religious institution, but for the indispensable social 
and human services and support it provides to the people of Oakland. By 
setting the standard of service and commitment for institutions of 
faith and community improvement throughout its 85 years of ministry, 
Allen Temple has contributed immeasurably to the Oakland community, our 
country, and the world. On behalf of the Ninth Congressional District, 
I salute and congratulate Allen Temple Baptist church on the occasion 
of its 85th anniversary.

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