[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             HONORING MOUNT OLIVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

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                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an 
irreplaceably important architecture of worship in the town of Bolton, 
Mississippi. For 143 years, the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church 
has served as a beacon of spiritual light for so many in the community.
  The beginnings of Mount Olive were formed through a coordinated 
effort among a group of God-fearing, Christian individuals who 
regularly gathered to conduct Sunday worship service beneath a small 
bush harbor in the late 1800s. The group subsequently established the 
Forkey Hill Missionary Baptist Church, located at the intersection of 
Mount Olive Road and Joe Hall Road. In 1883, the congregation decided 
to move and build a new sanctuary; in doing so, the church was renamed 
to Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
  In order to finance the construction of the new sanctuary, Brother 
John H. Jones and his wife, Earnestine Jones, allowed the church to use 
their home as collateral to have the new church built. Once financing 
was achieved, the church was built and continued to grow in number. One 
notable pastoral leader was Reverend Augustus Harper. Under his 
leadership, the church became debt-free by completing the terms and 
payments on the mortgage for the sanctuary in November 1971. The church 
also purchased 8 acres of prime farmland from Sister Alma Reuben and 
family, of which 2 of the acres were designated for the church cemetery 
and 3 acres were designated for the church parking lot. Through 
additional contributions made from Sister Reuben, the church was also 
able to construct the first lighted outdoor recreational facility for 
children of the community.
  The construction and establishment of the Mount Olive community park 
encouraged other members of the congregation to spearhead the church's 
first athletic program, softball, and baseball teams. With so many 
positive advancements occurring within the congregation and the 
community, the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church saw it necessary 
to construct a larger sanctuary to accommodate the growing membership. 
By September 2010, the membership performed a ribbon cutting ceremony, 
officially opening the new sanctuary.
  In addition to acquiring a new sanctuary, the church was blessed with 
many other new amenities from members of the congregation, including a 
new refrigerator, a new stove, cabinets, dishes, a hot water tank, and 
a kitchen vent. Amongst all of the additions and changes came a 
revelation that Reverend Harper would honorably resign as pastor of 
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in 2002. The following year, 
Reverend Wayne C. Moore became pastor and established numerous new 
ministries and goals for the church.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mount 
Olive Missionary Baptist Church for being an inspiration for change, 
growth, and unwavering spiritual unity for its congregational members 
and local community.

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