[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND DR. PAUL M. MARTIN

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                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2007

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the exceptional 
accomplishments and extraordinary life of the Reverend Paul Martin, 
Senior Pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. This 
remarkable gentleman merits our recognition and admiration as his 
impressive record of spiritual leadership and invaluable service has 
done much to improve the lives of our people.
  Reverend Martin's standing within our community is rivaled by few 
others. He has been on the front line of progress for decades and has 
used his skills and talents to advance the public good and care for the 
spiritual well-being of many of our citizens. As a dynamic pastor, 
educator, scholar and radio commentator, Paul Martin's leadership and 
service has made us stronger, more caring and more resilient.
  Reverend Martin began his life in South Central Los Angeles where he 
completed his secondary education in the public schools. He graduated 
with honors from Pepperdine University with a bachelor's degree in 
Religion, Psychology and Greek. He attained his Master of Divinity from 
the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union 
University and went on to earn his Doctor of Philosophy at the 
California Graduate School of Theology. Reverend Martin also received 
an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the Denver Seminary and has 
done additional study at Fuller Seminary, the Claremont School of 
Theology, and the Union Theological Seminary. Dr. Martin's many 
educational and scholarly accomplishments prepared him for a life of 
spiritual leadership that has left an indelible imprint on all of us.
  Under Reverend Martin's leadership, Macedonia Baptist Church has 
become a beacon of hope and remains a positive force in the spiritual 
and civic life of our community. Not only has Reverend Martin moved us 
from the pulpit, he has also edified us through his numerous radio 
ministries. While in Los Angeles, he had four radio ministries and in 
Denver, he created and hosted Religion in Focus on KNUS Radio and 
cohosted Community Focus on KRKS Radio with his wife, Dr. Agnes Martin. 
He is the host of two weekly radio ministries on KLDC in Denver--Focus 
on Live and Charisma--and is cohost of the Agnes Martin Show on Channel 
58, DCTV.
  Those who know Reverend Martin know it is difficult to ignore his 
moving and resonant voice. His words give meaning and poignancy to the 
spiritual aspirations we all share. Over the years, I have had the 
privilege of working closely with Macedonia Baptist Church as part of a 
church exchange with my congregation, Montview Presbyterian. As a 
member of Montview's choir, I have had the opportunity to lift my voice 
with the remarkable choir at Macedonia. I have also had the opportunity 
to reflect with Reverend Martin on matters of social concern and I will 
never forget a discussion we had concerning the War on Poverty.
  He reflected on how making poverty a national priority set in motion 
new laws and created programs such as Head Start, work study, Medicare 
and Medicaid. He noted how these programs brought about real results, 
reduced rates of poverty and improved living standards for America's 
poor. But what struck me was his conclusion--that this endeavor was 
great because it gave Americans the opportunity to care for and serve 
one another and that this kind of social stewardship changed our 
country for the better.
  Clearly, community service matters. But for Reverend Martin, 
community service is not just an empty catchphrase. It is personal 
commitment and active engagement in outcomes--it is stewardship at its 
finest. Under the leadership of Paul Martin, Macedonia Baptist Church 
has touched the community through a host of specialized programs and 
outreach ministries designed to enhance the spiritual and educational 
growth of our youth. His service to our community is extensive and 
includes being past president of the Urban League of Metro Denver; 
special advisor to former Mayor Wellington Webb and Mayor John 
Hickenlooper; member of the Denver Police Task Force; and Board Chair 
of the Stapleton Development Corporation. He is the first African 
American minister to serve as President of the American Baptist Region 
of the Rocky Mountains. He is an adjunct professor at the Denver 
Seminary and the Iliff School of Theology and an instructor with the 
Congress of Christian Education of National Baptist Convention. He has 
been a past trustee of the University of Sioux Falls, a member of the 
Committee on Ministry for the Presbytery of Denver, Vice President for 
Membership for the East Denver Ministerial Alliance and a lifetime 
member of the N.A.A.C.P. and the Southern Christian Leadership 
Conference.
  Martin Luther King, Jr., once noted that everybody could be great 
because everybody can serve. Reverend Martin has burnished a reputation 
of spiritual leadership that I think is the opposite of what most 
people think. His leadership is not only guidance, it is service. It is 
caring for one another. It is serving along side those whom you lead. 
It is service which is ordinary and yet extraordinary.
  Reverend Martin's tenure as Senior Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church 
is quickly drawing to a close. His leadership has been exemplary and 
his contributions are rich in consequence. On behalf of the citizens of 
the 1st Congressional District, I wish to express our gratitude and 
extend our best wishes to Pastor Martin, Agnes Martin and their family.
  Please join me in paying tribute to the Reverend Dr. Paul M. Martin, 
a distinguished spiritual and civic leader. His stewardship and service 
command our respect and they speak to the spirit of our founders and 
future of our country.

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