[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1461-E1462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING REVEREND DR. JAMES CHERRY, SR. OF AENON MISSIONARY BAPTIST 
           CHURCH OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay homage to the life 
and ministry of the Reverend Dr. James Cherry, Sr. Reverend Cherry is 
the long-serving, revered and accomplished pastor of the highly 
regarded

[[Page E1462]]

Aenon Missionary Baptist Church in Rochester, New York.
  Throughout his thirty-four year tenure as pastor of Aenon Missionary 
Baptist Church, Reverend Cherry has earned the love and respect of 
Aenon congregants and countless others throughout the United States and 
abroad. His teaching and preaching have enabled innumerable people to 
lift themselves from the depths of despair, given them hope for a 
brighter future and the determination to reach their full potential in 
life. His outstanding ministry can be credited in great part for the 
unprecedented growth of the Aenon Missionary Baptist Church.
  His compassionate spirit and boundless love for humanity have guided 
Aenon to reach far beyond its four walls and into the darker places of 
our society. With his guidance, the church established ministries such 
as Dorcas's Closet, Monks Bread, and the Urban Farm Stand to address 
the basic needs of people in the southwest area of Rochester, New York. 
Through his work with the New York State Empire Baptist Mission of 
America, Reverend Cherry has ministered to the needs of countless 
people throughout our nation and in foreign countries.
  Often referred to as the ``pastor's pastor'' by his colleagues, 
Reverend Cherry is notable for sharing wise and profound counsel with 
other ministers and pastors. Not being one to promote himself or a 
personal agenda, he has always freely shared his wisdom; thereby aiding 
younger pastors to excel in ministry and more seasoned pastors to 
benefit from his wealth of experience and ministerial expertise.
  Reverend Cherry faithfully served our nation through his service in 
the United States Marine Corps (1954-1957). He has faithfully served as 
an American Baptist pastor for 54 years and as pastor of Aenon 
Missionary Baptist Church for 34 years. He has received numerous 
accolades and many awards, including awards from the National Baptist 
Convention, the Great Lakes Baptist Association, the Empire State 
Congress of Christian Education, the Urban League, the NAACP, the YMCA 
and the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.
  Through his ministry and works, Reverend Cherry has proven himself to 
be a servant of God and a friend to all of humanity. In tribute to his 
lifetime of service to the Rochester, New York community and far 
beyond, I stand to honor him today. As Reverend Cherry enters into 
retirement at the end of 2014, let the record show that his legacy is 
one of love, compassion, empathy and great works. Today I am proud to 
honor the life and legacy of one of the finest residents of New York's 
25th Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, the Rochester community, the 
State of New York and our nation are far better places because Reverend 
Dr. James Cherry, Sr. has walked among us.

                          ____________________