[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO REV. MARK McCOLLUM AND THE NEW HOME BAPTIST CHURCH

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2014

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Rev. Mark McCollum was 
born in Sunflower, Mississippi on June 12, 1934. In 1954 he moved to 
Chicago, Illinois. In 1964, Rev. Mark McCollum and a small group of 
faithful followers and believers founded the New Home Baptist Church in 
February of that year. The church's first location was in the Stone 
Temple Baptist Church Annex on Millard and Douglas Boulevard. A year 
later on March 19, 1965, Pastor McCollum lost his right arm in an 
accident and the church moved several times before locating to 349 
South Cicero Avenue. It was always Pastor McCollum's desire to be in a 
church building and the New Home Family worked and prayed for forty 
years for it to happen. They called those years, the wilderness years, 
referring to the 40 years the children of Israel wandered in the 
wilderness after leaving Egypt. The Church and its pastor had their 
challenges and struggles but as a skilled leader, administrator and 
businessperson, the church acquired most of the 300 South Cicero Avenue 
block and used it as leverage to purchase the new church location at 
4804 W. Polk Street, which is now known as Dr. Mark McCollum Avenue.
  While being a great preacher and pastor, Dr. Mark McCollum is also 
known as one of the greatest gospel singers in the world, and brings 
great joy and inspiration to thousands every week with his voice. He 
can be heard on radio every Sunday night on AM 1450 at 9:00 pm where 
thousands wait for his theme song, ``I Will Trust In The Lord Until I 
Die.''
  Finally, the wait was over and for the past ten years the New Home 
Congregation has been worshiping at 4804 W. Polk St. in Chicago, 
Illinois and saying thanks be to God for all that he has done. As one 
who lived at 5252 W. Polk Street for twenty years, I say thank you New 
Home, Thank You Dr. Mark McCollum for all that you mean to our 
community!
  God Bless and Keep you.

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