[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 4, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIFTEENTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM COOPER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the members of 
Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church, located in Nashville, Tennessee as 
they celebrate their 125th Anniversary.
  The church was organized in 1885, just 20 years after the end of the 
Civil War, by a loyal band that included Irene Smart, Bill Smith, Ed 
Marshall and others. Ten years later they called their first pastor, 
Reverend A.W. Porter. The first revival service was held at a livery 
stable. Since those humble beginnings, five pastors have shepherded 
this faithful congregation: A.W. Porter (1895-1931), Walter R. Murray 
(1929-1953), Leroy Crinel (1953-1960), Enoch Jones (1961-1994) and 
William F. Buchanan (1994-present).
  Under the leadership of Pastor Buchanan, a new model of ministry was 
initiated. The image he had for this faith community was ``Servant 
Model''--a church that exists to serve others. The ministries include a 
``Love Kitchen'' that serves weekly hot meals to the homeless; a 
seniors ministry that provides a place for seniors in the community to 
come and fellowship, play games and have a hot meal weekly; a community 
development corporation that delivers services to assist people in 
meeting their physical, emotional and spiritual needs; ``Christ Fund,'' 
an endowment that provides scholarships for high school graduates; 
``Life Spring,'' a grief and pastoral counseling ministry; ``Psalm 
46,'' a disaster preparedness ministry; ``Ninevah,'' an outreach 
program that provides holistic ministry from the church to the 
community; a prison ministry; bus ministry; radio worship program, and 
many other initiatives that expand the church beyond the walls of the 
physical building.
  For 125 years, the Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church has been an 
invaluable presence in the North Nashville community. When many growing 
congregations were faced with the dilemma of remaining in the inner-
city or moving to the suburbs, Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church voted 
unanimously not only to remain an urban congregation, but also to be an 
agent for transformational change in North Nashville.
  Several years ago, a local newspaper wrote, ``what's exciting about 
Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church is they have taken ownership in their 
neighborhood to address conditions in their community to make it better 
for all the people there.'' Additionally, a nationwide survey funded by 
the Lilly Endowment cited Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church as one of 300 
outstanding Protestant churches in America and Canada.
  Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Pastor William F. Buchanan, and the entire congregation of Fifteenth 
Avenue Baptist Church on the occasion of their 125th anniversary and 
wish them many more years of service to our great nation.

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