[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE MORTGAGE-BURNING SERVICE AT LITTLE UNION BAPTIST CHURCH

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2011

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Little Union Baptist Church, in Dumfries, Virginia, on the occasion of 
its June 11, 2011, ``Mortgage-Burning Service.''
  The Deed for the first site of Little Union Baptist Church was signed 
on September 9, 1901, a gift of the land from John Thomas and Mary 
Bates Thomas to church trustees. For Mary Bates Thomas in particular, 
this gift represented a great achievement in the life of a truly 
amazing woman. Mary Bates was born into slavery in Northern Virginia. 
As a slave, Ms. Bates learned to read and write and participated in the 
camp meetings praising God and maintaining her undying faith in the 
face of such great hardship.
  Following emancipation, Mary Bates Thomas became a pillar of her 
community, running a small general store with her husband John Thomas, 
reading and writing letters for the illiterate, and acting as a healer 
and midwife. Recognizing the need of her community for a church of its 
own, Mary Bates Thomas and her husband donated the land on which the 
church, which would come to be known as Little Union Baptist, was 
built. Its diminutive name may have reflected its intimate membership 
early on, but the church acted as a focal point of the community and a 
great source of comfort and pride in times of both joy and difficulty.
  In over one hundred years of serving the community, the Little Union 
family has grown in size, yet its mission, handed down from Mrs. Bates 
Thomas to the church leadership and today through the guidance of 
Reverend James Green, has always remained: ``to establish a fellowship 
in Jesus Christ that will promote the Gospel throughout the community 
and the world.''
  Mary Bates Thomas would surely be proud to see what her church has 
become. Due to the generosity of the congregation, the able leadership 
of the church, and God's grace, today we may celebrate Little Union 
Baptist's satisfaction of its mortgage. Now in complete ownership of 
its house of worship, the church will be able use its resources in even 
greater support of other outreach ministries.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 
``Mortgage Burning Service'' for Little Union Baptist Church. I would 
like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Little Union church 
family for establishing and maintaining a healthy house of worship that 
spreads the spirit of charity and provides counsel to those in need of 
guidance.

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