[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

                                 ______
                                 

                           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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