[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 23, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S4757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING REVEREND SAMUEL C. TOLBERT

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Rev. Samuel Tolbert, pastor of the Greater St. Mary's 
Missionary Baptist Church in Lake Charles, LA, on his recent election 
as the 15th president of the National Baptist Convention of America, 
Inc.
  Rev. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr. was born August 1, 1958 in Lake Charles, 
LA and graduated from Washington High school in 1976. A graduate of 
Bishop College in Dallas, he earned his bachelors of arts in religion 
and philosophy with a minor in speech education. He has also received 
an honorary doctorate of divinity from Union Baptist College and 
Theological Seminary and a masters from Payne Theological Seminary. He 
is currently pursuing a doctorate in ministry at Stephen Olford Center 
at Union University in Memphis, TN.
  Reverend Tolbert is a recognized civic leader. He served as a 
commissioner for the Lake Charles Housing Authority, a representative 
of District ``A'' on Lake Charles City Council, and as a member of the 
board of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation. Currently, 
Reverend Tolbert serves on the board of supervisors for the Southern 
University System.
  A devout man of faith, Reverend Tolbert has dedicated himself to a 
life of religious servitude. He has presided over Greater Saint Mary 
Missionary Baptist Church since 1984. Reverend Tolbert has held a 
number of positions in the faith community including serving as first 
vice president of the Southwest Missionary Baptist Association, 
president of the Louisiana Home & Foreign Missions Baptist State 
Convention, and general secretary National Baptist Convention of 
America Inc. Reverend Tolbert currently serves as president of Greater 
St. Mary Community Development Foundation, the president & CEO 
Strategic Faith Leadership Ministries, and as the coordinator of 
disaster relief North America for Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission 
Convention.
  Reverend Tolbert's accomplishments reflect his dedication to his 
faith, education and service. On June 25, 2014, he was elected the 
president of the National Baptist Convention of America. With over 3.5 
million members worldwide, the National Baptist Convention of America 
is an organization that seeks to ``positively impact and influence the 
spiritual, educational, social, and economic conditions of all 
humankind''.
  It is with the greatest sincerity that I ask my colleagues to join me 
in recognizing Rev. Samuel Tolbert Jr. for his accomplishments as an 
incredible reverend, father, and mentor. His wife Matilda, and their 
two daughters Candace and Kayla must be extremely proud and I know that 
he will serve the National Baptist Convention well.

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