[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 61 (Friday, May 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE REVEREND DR. EUGENE JOHNSON ON HIS 20TH PASTORAL 
   ANNIVERSARY AT MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN CENTREVILLE, VIRGINIA

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 3, 2013

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Reverend Dr. 
Eugene Johnson on his 20th Pastoral Anniversary at Mount Olive Baptist 
Church in Centreville, Virginia. Mount Olive Baptist Church has served 
the spiritual needs of those in the Centreville and Northern Virginia 
communities for nearly 120 years, and Dr. Johnson's leadership has 
positioned this institution for another century of success.
  Rev. Dr. Eugene Johnson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and 
raised in nearby Oakville. His father was a minister and his mother 
worked avidly for the good of the community. Dr. Johnson received a 
Bachelors of Architecture Degree from Southern University, Baton Rouge, 
in 1970. He earned his Master of Divinity Degree at Howard University 
in 1989, and in 2006, the Richmond Virginia Seminary conferred on him 
the prestigious Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree for his exemplary 
leadership and service.
  Before assuming full time pastoral duties at Mount Olive, Dr. Johnson 
was known as a national expert in design, art, and architecture. He 
served as the principle Resident Architect with the Federal Highway 
Administration and was credited as being the first African American in 
many of the agency's national accomplishments. Dr. Johnson has been 
recognized for his efforts that resulted in the designation of ``All-
American Road'' to the historic Selma-to-Montgomery March for Voting 
Rights route. This march, led by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr., began on March 21, 1965 with 3,200 marchers. Four days later, on 
March 25, 1965, 25,000 marchers had joined.
  In 1992, Dr. Eugene Johnson assumed the leadership of Mount Olive 
Baptist Church. Under his guidance, the Church has experienced 
unprecedented growth in not only the number of members, but also in its 
activities and influence. Membership has increased nearly ten-fold from 
250 members in 1992 to more than 2,000 today, including many young 
people.
  Dr. Johnson has led efforts to expand the Church's influence in the 
larger community, creating ministries to encourage health and physical 
fitness, provide tutoring, SAT/PSAT prep, and computer skills training, 
and serve the spiritual needs of others in our community, including 
seniors and those who are incarcerated. He has also established 
partnerships with local schools to foster the academic achievement of 
minority students. He is an active supporter and participant in foreign 
mission programs, and under his leadership, Mount Olive has extended 
its outreach activities around the globe.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the 
Rev. Dr. Eugene Johnson on this momentous occasion, and in commending 
him for his contributions and service to Mount Olive Baptist Church and 
our community.

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