[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H1605-H1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. MELVIN E. BANKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize Dr. Melvin E. 
Banks of Chicago, Illinois, on his company's 35th anniversary. Dr. 
Banks is the owner of Urban Ministries, Incorporated, which is the 
largest African American owned and operated Christian publishing and 
media company.
  At the age of 12, Dr. Banks discovered the Lord and his subsequent 
calling after sharing his testimony on the back roads of Birmingham, 
Alabama. At that time an elderly gentleman overheard his testimony and 
provided the young Banks with a Bible verse that would have significant 
impact on his future pursuits. Hosea 4:6 states, ``My people are 
destroyed for lack of knowledge.'' Upon hearing those words, Dr. Banks 
knew immediately that God's purpose for his life was to help spread 
knowledge of the gospel from an African American perspective.
  After founding Urban Ministries in 1970, Dr. Banks and his small 
staff operated out of the basement of his home for 12 years. As Dr. 
Banks' faith grew, so did his media ministry. In 1982, Urban Ministries 
occupied the second floor of a building located at 1439 West 103rd 
street in Chicago, Illinois. Guided by a vision that others did not 
see, Dr. Banks moved Urban Ministries in 1996 to its current 46,000 
square foot headquarters in the Chicagoland area.
  Today, Urban Ministries serves over 40,000 Sunday school teachers 
throughout the United States, Haiti, the Bahamas, Nigeria and South 
Africa. Under Dr. Banks' leadership, souls have been touched and 
prayers have been answered as Urban Ministries moves closer to its goal 
of reaching every black Christian church with Christian education 
products and services.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Banks holds a Bachelor's Degree from Moody Bible 
Institute as well as undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degrees 
from Wheaton College in Illinois.

[[Page H1606]]

  So on this day, I congratulate Dr. Banks on this momentous milestone 
in his company's history. My fellow colleagues, please join me in 
extending best wishes to Dr. Banks on 35 years of success and for 
another 35 years of success that surely will be approaching.

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