[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 52 (Monday, April 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E691-E692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LEWIS CHAPEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ON THE
OCCASION OF ITS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
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HON. LARRY KISSELL
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 11, 2011
Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th
anniversary of the Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in
Fayetteville, North Carolina. I ask my colleagues to please join me
along with the church's pastor, Rev. John D. Fuller, Sr., and his
nearly 4,000 parishioners, in celebrating this significant milestone.
In honor of the occasion, I would like to submit into the Congressional
Record a detailed historical overview provided by Lewis Chapel
chronicling the church's incredible growth throughout its many years of
spiritual service to families in Fayetteville and throughout the world:
A History of Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
During the early 1900s, a small group of devout believers
began meeting in a small one-room building located near the
present Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. This one-room
building was used at that time as a school for the training
of Negro children in this area for a period of 6 months
during the year. This group of believers felt a burning
desire for spiritual food at least once a week. They obtained
permission to start a Sunday School class in this building
where they could assemble each week to study God's word.
Foremost in this endeavor were three young men who were
cousins from Pender County--Mr. Seavy Lewis, Mr. Henry
McAllister, and Mr. Andrew ``Jack'' Newkirk.
In the year of our Lord, 1911, these three cousins were
instrumental in organizing the Lewis Chapel Missionary
Baptist Church. The church was named in honor of Mr. Seavy
Lewis. Rev. William McGuire was called to serve as the first
pastor of the church and he served from 1911 to 1913. The
church united with the Middle District Association and
remained with this association for more than sixty years. It
was under the leadership of Rev. McGuire that the first
deacons were ordained. They were Brothers McAllister and
Lewis. Brother Newkirk served as the first superintendent of
the Sunday School with Sister Hattie McAllister and Rev. Dock
Gerald as the first teachers.
Brother Clarence Bridges served as the first sexton
(janitor) and Rev. Dock Gerald was the first Church Clerk.
Working diligently along with this courageous group were
sisters Minnie Lewis, Annie Liza McAllister, and Hattie
McAllister. They were now officially ready to move forward in
the business of saving souls.
Rev. William Rome became pastor in 1913, serving until
1917. During this period, the church purchased some real
estate in the Seventy-First Township on Highway 401 South.
Rev. W.M. Boykin served as pastor from 1917 to 1921. It was
during this period that church members and friends put their
means together and donated materials to erect the first Lewis
Chapel Church building. It was located on the site of the
present church offices.
In 1932, a fire destroyed the church structure and services
were temporarily held at a nearby elementary school. Soon a
second sanctuary was erected on the original site, using the
proceeds from the church's insurance, along with
contributions from members and friends.
In May 1937, the Rev. Robert L. Carr of Rose Hill, North
Carolina was called to pastor Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist
Church, a position he held until September 1973. A father
figure to many and a man of great insight, he encouraged home
ownership and education. With Rev. Carr's guidance, a
vestibule, two classrooms and stained glass windows were
added to the structure. Outdoor bathrooms and heating were
installed.
During Rev. Carr's tenure many organizations were
established, including the Home and Foreign Missionary
Circle, the trustees and several choirs.
On June 29, 1973, the Rev. R.L. Carr resigned so that the
church might secure a full-time pastor. On July 19, 1973, the
deacons and trustees recommended to the church conference
that the Rev. John D. Fuller, Sr. become the church's eighth
pastor. Rev. Fuller assumed that responsibility on the third
Sunday in November 1973.
For 38 years Rev. John D. Fuller, Sr. has shepherded the
congregation and guided the members in understanding the
biblical concepts of tithing and giving offerings. These
sound practices have led to the building of two sanctuaries,
the first in 1975 and the second in 1992. Offices and
educational wings have also been constructed.
The church has built a 47-unit senior citizens complex and
a recreation athletic complex. Both complexes serve the
community. A new ministry site established as Lewis Chapel-
West was planted in Raeford, North Carolina in June 2009.
Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church has been supportive
of young congregations and has undergirded First Spanish
Missionary Baptist Church, Fayetteville, North Carolina and
Manna Fellowship Baptist Church, Spring Lake, North Carolina.
True to the word ``missionary'', Lewis Chapel Missionary
Baptist Church has sent missionaries abroad, including South
Africa and Liberia, Africa.
Over 4,000 persons hold membership in Lewis Chapel
Missionary Baptist Church. Members understand that Salvation
by God's grace should be followed by compassion and good
works. Through the years, God has blessed this church to
engage in diverse ministries that advanced the ``Cause of
Christ'' on local, state, national, and international levels.
Needs of the hungry, thirsty, stranger and naked have been
addressed. For example: Lewis Chapel responded promptly and
generously to those distressed by Hurricane Floyd (Eastern
North Carolina, September, 1999); Tsunami (earthquake in
Indonesia off Sumatra, December 2004); Hurricane Katrina (New
Orleans, Louisiana, Gulf Coast area, August, 2005); and Haiti
(January 2010). Prayer, help, and comfort was provided for
the sick. Visitations and messages of hope were delivered to
the imprisoned. When necessary, mortgages were paid so that
persons may keep their homes. The twenty-six graduating
seniors were eligible for college grants. Support was given
to Fayetteville State University, Morehouse School of
Religion, Shaw University, Shaw Divinity School and Ricks
Institute, Virginia, Liberia.
Realizing that there is strength in unity, Lewis Chapel
joined with other organizations that engaged in missionary
work. They include the Union Baptist Association (56 churches
in Sampson, Cumberland, Hoke, Bladen, Robeson Counties), the
General Baptist State Convention, Inc., Lott Carey Foreign
Missionary Convention, USA, National Baptist Convention, USA,
Inc., American Baptist Churches of the South, North Carolina
Council of Churches and the Baptist World Alliance.
Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Incorporated seeks
to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ in these ways:
--To worship God in Spirit and in Truth and to nurture each
other in Christian faith and love;
--To live a life worthy of our vocation and heritage as
Christians while we strive for justice, peace, and love of
Christ in this community and beyond;
--To follow Jesus Christ and announce the Gospel by means
of preaching, teaching, studying, and witnessing;
--To serve God by meeting human needs in all the forms they
are manifested through our local outreach, state, national,
and global ministries;
--To lead our community into the obedient and abundant life
to all who will follow Christ and walk in the Spirit.
As Lewis Chapel gathers to celebrate its centennial, the Church can
truly remember its past, celebrate its present, and focus on the future
with great expectations. I would like to congratulate Rev. Fuller, and
all of the members of Lewis Chapel on the occasion of their 100th
anniversary. I wish them 100 more years of dedicated service to the
community.
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