[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E493-E494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN TRIBUTE TO REVEREND DOCTOR CHARLES EVERTON THORNHILL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2014

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, the Reverend Doctor, Charles Everton 
Thornhill will celebrate his 85th birthday on Friday, April 11, 2014. 
He will be celebrating this special occasion with members of his 
congregation, colleagues, family and friends. The Reverend Dr. Charles 
Everton Thornhill is pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. Reverend Thornhill said that God chose his mate, Mary 
Catherine Thornhill, and they have been married for over 56 years.
  Dr. Thornhill was born April 9, 1929 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and 
was educated in the Cambridge Public Schools. He graduated from Zion 
Bible College in East Providence, Rhode Island, receiving a Bachelor of 
Arts Degree and Doctorate of Ministry from St. Martin College & 
Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a Doctorate of Divinity Degree 
from the Urban Bible College in Detroit, Michigan.
  Reverend Thornhill has been a pastor both preaching and teaching for 
over 50 years. The first church he pastored was Zion Mission which he 
led for two years in Hyannis, Massachusetts. This was followed by his 
leadership at Beulah Temple Church for four years in Louisville, 
Kentucky. He moved to Milwaukee to join his friend, the late Reverend 
Kenneth Bowen pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Rev. Bowen was also 
a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Reverend Thornhill served as the 
Assistant Pastor of Mt. Moriah for 12 years. He left Mt. Moriah to 
become Pastor of Greater Mount Eagle Baptist Church in Racine, 
Wisconsin where he served for 24 years. Reverend Thornhill was asked to 
return to Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and has continued to pastor for 
nearly 20 years.
  Dr. Thornhill is in the midst of a rebuilding and renovation program 
for their worship facility. In April, 2014, a chapel will be completed 
where the Mt. Moriah Educational Building once stood. Further, the 
current church building will be razed and be replaced with a new church 
building. The chapel constructed in 2014 will then be converted to the 
fellowship hall.
  Dr. Thornhill is in great demand as a speaker around his community, 
city, and this country. He is an instructor at the National Baptist

[[Page E494]]

Congress of Christian Education and the Wisconsin General Baptist State 
Congress of Christian Education. He teaches a theology class every 
Monday night in ``Milwaukee to Pastors.'' He has served on boards of 
various social, economic, educational and philanthropic organizations. 
Pastor Thornhill has announced that this is his ``Caleb Year'' because 
Caleb was 85 years of age when he and descendants were rewarded by God 
with their promise. Caleb awaited his promise for 40 years remaining 
faithful and displaying triumphant faith; like Caleb, time has neither 
dimmed Reverend Thornhill's faith nor his spiritual vision.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to praise Reverend Dr. Charles Everton Thornhill 
who is my pastor and my friend. I honor his many accomplishments and 
life time commitment to the entire Milwaukee Community and the 4th 
Congressional District.

                          ____________________