[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOODBURY CHURCH OF CHRIST

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                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 2005

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 175th year of 
existence of the Woodbury Church of Christ. The Middle Tennessee 
congregation will celebrate the church's 175th anniversary during 
festivities slated for March 13-16.
  The Woodbury Church of Christ began in 1830 when Tolbert Fanning 
baptized Elizabeth Gowan, wife of Dr. W.D. Gowan, in the Stones River. 
In 1836, William West donated the property upon which the first church 
was erected in 1842. A new building was built on the same site in 1889. 
It still stands today.
  In 1868, the Woodbury Church of Christ reported 100 members. Today, 
the Church has 850 members. Minister Herb Alsup has served the Church 
for more than 27 years. He is helped by Junior Associate Minister Al 
Bugg Jr.; Missions Outreach Minister Howard Swann; Youth Minister Tim 
Knox; elders Lannie Burger, Clayton Glenn and Ray LeFevers; and deacons 
Mark Bailey, Mike Bailey, Dale Bush, Mike Corley, Mark Elkins, Bob 
Fuller, Jimmy Merryman, Boyd Pitts, Jeff Reed and Greg Rogers.
  The Woodbury Church of Christ helps the community's needy through its 
outreach center, which provides clothing and food, and other benevolent 
work. The congregation's mission program is very active, having started 
three churches in the past five years. The new churches are Bright 
Angel Church of Christ in Las Vegas, Nevada; Emerald Beach Church of 
Christ in Panama City Beach, Florida; and Cleveland Church of Christ in 
Cleveland, Georgia. The Woodbury Church of Christ also supports 
churches and ministers in 10 foreign countries and nine other cities in 
the United States.
  Woodbury is a better place because of the work of the Woodbury Church 
of Christ and its congregation. I am sure the church will continue to 
make a positive difference in the community for the next 175 years, and 
I congratulate the congregation and Minister Herb Alsup for all the 
good work they have done.

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