[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 182 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING REVEREND SAMUEL LITTLEJOHN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARC A. VEASEY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2015

  Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Samuel 
Littlejohn's 50th anniversary as a spiritual leader and Pastor of 
Shining Light Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
  Reverend Littlejohn was born in Tyler, Texas, to a Baptist minister 
and a family dedicated to the church. As a young child, his mother, 
father, and grandfather all instilled an abiding love for and 
sustaining commitment to his religion. He was baptized at the age of 
seven at the Greater Hopwell Missionary Baptist Church in Tyler, where 
he remained a member until he moved to Fort Worth to pursue seminary 
studies.
  In 1951, Reverend Littlejohn moved to Fort Worth and joined Pilgrim 
Valley Missionary Baptist Church. He served as the Superintendent of 
the Sunday school, participated in the Senior Choir, and acted as the 
President of the #2 Usher Department.
  Reverend Littlejohn continued his seminary education by earning a 
missionary degree from Southwest Theological Seminary and Bishop 
College. In November 1960, Reverend Littlejohn was ordained and gave 
his first sermon in front of Pilgrim Valley church.
  He served the Pilgrim Valley community until 1965, when he was called 
to pastor Shining Light Missionary Baptist Church, where he has served 
for the last 50 years.
  Along with his work in his church communities, Reverend Littlejohn 
has continued to be an active and vocal participant in the community. 
Pastor Littlejohn has worked with the Community Action Agency (CAA), 
was an organizing member of the first Ministers and Police Taskforce 
and served as a member of Parent, Preacher, and Principal organization 
which worked with Fort Worth Independent School District to encourage 
children to stay in school.
  Most notably, Pastor Littlejohn was the driving force behind the Stop 
Six Community Health Center. Reverend Littlejohn was a founding member 
of the Stop Six Community Corporation and much of the success of the 
organization can be attributed to the Reverend. His work greatly 
impacted the DFW community and is now used as a model in other cities.
  Earlier this year, the Black Pastors, Clergy and Ministerial Group 
Association of Texas, Inc. presented Pastor Littlejohn with the 
``Living Legend Award'' and recognized him as one of the honorable 
senior pastors in Fort Worth.

                          ____________________