[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 149 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 2015

   Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my sincerest congratulations to the congregation of my church 
home, Mount Zion Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, as we celebrate a 
remarkable 150 years. A celebration in honor of this very significant 
anniversary will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at the church. 
This celebration will also serve as an opportunity to honor Pastor 
Daniel Simmons for his 24 years of faithful leadership to the church.
  Tracing its roots back to the Civil War era, the church was founded 
in 1865, the same year that the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery 
was passed by Congress and ratified by the States. In the beginning 
years, the members of the church met at Jerry Walter's Blacksmith Shop 
at the corner of Highland Avenue and Jackson Street. The church had 
purchased land and was constructing a new building at Washington Street 
and Highland Avenue but the structure was destroyed by a storm before 
it was completed.
  The church next purchased land at Whitney Avenue and Jefferson 
Street. A Yankee colonel donated a house that was brought to Albany 
from nearby Leesburg. The house served as the first church structure at 
that site until years later when it was torn down and a church of brick 
was built. This brick structure is known as the Old Mount Zion 
building.
  Mr. Speaker, this ardent community of believers, whose ancestors had 
finally been freed from the bonds of slavery, were subjected to 
continuous oppression and injustice, ultimately resulting in the Civil 
Rights Movement. They attempted to register to vote, they rallied, they 
marched, and they were thrown in jail. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. came to Albany to mobilize the African-American community and 
was himself incarcerated. Yet, the spirit of the congregation of Mount 
Zion was not broken, and their faith in God grew stronger than ever 
before as they prevailed.
  Many of the rallies during the Albany phase of the Civil Rights 
Movement were held at Mount Zion and to commemorate those struggles, 
the church donated the building to the Albany Civil Rights Museum which 
is currently housed there. In 1972, the church moved to a new location 
at 1905 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue.
  In 1994, Mount Zion again faced adversity when floods inundated the 
church with eight feet of water. The congregation took the old adage, 
``come Hell or high water,'' to heart and continued to worship at the 
local Jewish Temple B'nail Israel until the church building was 
reconstructed a little over a year later.
  In its 150 years, Mount Zion has seen only nine pastors but each has 
left a lasting mark on the church. The founding pastor, Rev. R.R. 
Watson faithfully served the church during its first 15 years of 
existence until he was called to his heavenly reward. In 1944, Rev. Dr. 
E. James Grant began leading the flock. During his 47 years of service, 
the church grew and flourished tremendously.
  In 1991, Pastor Daniel Simmons took leadership of Mount Zion and this 
year, he celebrates 24 years of service to Mount Zion. A charismatic 
evangelical innovator, Pastor Simmons' spiritual zeal is both 
infectious and highly contagious. Under his leadership, Mount Zion 
expanded its ministry services, increased its membership tremendously 
to the point where a second worship service was added, and moved into 
its new state-of-the-art facility on 109 acres of land at 901 South 
Westover Boulevard in 2010.
  With a congregation of over 3,000 members and 54 ministries, 
including both radio and television ministries, Mount Zion is truly 
``reaching the world for Christ through evangelism, discipleship, 
fellowship, and missions.''
  On a personal note, I am proud that Mount Zion is my church home and 
that I am an ordained Deacon and Trustee. My wife, Vivian, and I have 
been blessed by Pastor Simmons' wise counsel and sage advice. Over the 
19 years I have been a member of the church, I have known some of the 
most kind, loving, and generous Christians who truly have a heart for 
Jesus. To God be the glory, for He is doing amazing things through 
Mount Zion.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife, 
Vivian, in honoring and commending Mount Zion Baptist Church in Albany, 
Georgia for its enduring commitment, despite adversity, to each other 
and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May Mount Zion continue to 
inspire the community in courage, in dedication, and in faith for many 
more years to come.

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