[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 151 (Friday, October 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2075-E2076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO BISHOP SAMUEL L. CARRUTH OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA

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                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 4, 2007

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
contributions of a citizen of Portsmouth, Virginia, who has devoted his 
life to the work of God and helping his fellow man. Today I would like 
to pay tribute to Bishop Samuel L. Carruth of Holy Light Church of 
Deliverance in Portsmouth.
  Bishop Carruth, the eleventh of thirteen children, aspired to be an 
FBI agent as a child before heeding the call to devote his life to 
preaching the Gospel. Bishop Carruth was educated in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, where he attended Benjamin Franklin High School and 
Temple University. He then served for 2 years as a staff sergeant in 
the United States Army.
  Following his discharge from the Army, Bishop Carruth was stricken 
with tuberculosis in both lungs and hospitalized in East Orange, New 
Jersey. The doctor's prognosis was grim and the young Carruth suffered 
much weight loss and pain. Bishop Carruth credits his devotion to God 
to his full recovery from this horrible disease.
  Shortly after his bout with tuberculosis, Bishop Carruth heeded the 
call of ministry and co-founded the Deliverance Evangelistic Church in 
Philadelphia with the late Reverend Benjamin Smith. He served as 
assistant pastor in that ministry and in the field of evangelism 
faithfully for 6 years. During this time, he also received a doctorate 
of divinity at Jamison Bible University.
  In 1967, Bishop Carruth and his family left Philadelphia and moved to 
Portsmouth where he became pastor of the Holy Light Church of 
Deliverance, which at the time had a humble membership of 13 people. 
Within 6 months under Bishop Carruth's leadership, Holy Light Church's 
membership ballooned and became an overflowing powerhouse of activity. 
With this growth, the original church quickly outgrew its capacity. In 
1968, Holy Light moved to a larger building in Portsmouth and expanded 
again in 1995. Their current facility can seat 1,000 and includes 
plenty of space for offices and classrooms.
  For 40 years, Bishop Carruth has been leading God's charge and 
serving his community at Holy Light Church of Deliverance. Bishop 
Carruth has been a member of the Portsmouth Community Development 
Corporation and has launched numerous community outreach programs 
including the Adopt-a-School program with Emily Spong Elementary 
School, the Holy Light College of Bible, the Summer Camp for Youth, the 
Men's Community Breakfast, the HLC Telephone Ministry, and reading and 
tutorial programs to help at risk students succeed in school.
  Even as one of the most active pastors in the Hampton Roads area, 
Bishop Carruth has still managed to have time for his lovely family. He 
and his wife of 53 years, Mary C.

[[Page E2076]]

Carruth, have four daughters--Linda, Fayette, Dorene, and Sharron--two 
sons-in-law, seven grandchildren, and a niece and nephew-in-law.

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