[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING SWEET CANAAN CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise/day to honor a 
historic church, Sweet Canaan Church of God in Christ. It has shown 
what can be done through the years of dedication of a progressive 
church.
  The historic Sweet Canaan Church of God in Christ, which is the 
second oldest Church of God in Christ in the World and is located at: 
1946 Bellbottom Road in Lexington, MS 39095.
  ``The first church added to the number professing sanctification was 
located in Carroll (Holmes) County sixteen or seventeen miles north of 
Lexington, Mississippi.'' This statement is from the book: ``Fifty 
Years Achievement from 1906-1956 A PERIOD IN HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF 
GOD IN CHRIST''; By Charles H. Pleas, reprint 1991 p 5. The Editorial 
note stated: The Historic Sweet Canaan church is located near the 
Carroll County line but it is actually in northern Holmes County just 
south of Carroll County.
  Sweet Canaan began as a little prayer mission in a wayside house of 
Professor Allen Taylor. Allen Taylor's property was located on Bell 
Bottom Road which is located about ten to fifteen miles north of 
Lexington. During those days Elder Morgan Williams was in charge of the 
small congregation. In the year 1909, the prayer mission decided to 
organize itself and the name Sweet Canaan was chosen. Prior to 
selecting the name Sweet Canaan, the church was known as the ``Colored 
Sanctified Church.'' It was through continuous fervent prayer that 
other community people soon joined the early saints.
  The present site of Sweet Canaan was once the spot where cattle of 
Professor Taylor grazed. Professor Taylor donated the land to the 
church for the sum of twenty dollars ($20.00), a legal formality.
  Although the small congregation did not have seats, the community was 
blessed. Mr. Isaac Randle was given a few dollars to bring some sweet 
gum logs to be used as seats in the prayer mission. Recognizing the 
small congregation's perseverance, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, 
Founder of the Church Of God In Christ, appointed Elder Jeffery A. 
Lewis as their first pastor. He was also appointed the first Overseer 
of the State of Mississippi. At that time, the whole state was under 
one jurisdiction.
  Sweet Canaan is blessed to have had its first three pastors to serve 
as state overseers; they were Elder Jeffery Lewis, Elder Stephen Rice, 
and Elder James Henderson. Sweet Canaan is also blessed to have had the 
jurisdictional supervisor of women for northern Mississippi, Mother 
Sarah Ann Braggs Gaston, as a member during her youth. Bishop Timothy 
Titus, Prelate of Northern Mississippi Jurisdiction, preached at 
Historic Sweet Canaan during his early years as a young preacher. The 
late Bishop Louis Henry Ford, former Presiding Bishop of the Church of 
God in Christ, often talked about his experience when he preached at 
Sweet Canaan, when he was a child and a student at Saint Academy and 
College in Lexington.
  The first State Holy Convocation of the Church Of God In Christ was 
held at Historic Sweet Canaan.
  Former Pastors of Sweet Canaan were: Elder J.A. Lewis, Elder Stephen 
Rice, Elder Fred Winans, Elder W.B. Hudges, Elder D.R. Curry, Elder 
James Lee, Elder James Henderson, Elder D. Pitchford, Elder J.L. Pleas, 
Superintendent Fred Wade, and currently Elder Dr. Percy Washington, Sr.
  The first deacons of Sweet Canaan were Brother Phillip Blake, Brother 
Louis Brooks and Brother Charlie Randle, and Mother Abbie Banks was the 
church mother.
  Some of the early saints of Sweet Canaan were: Professor Allen 
Taylor, Brother Louis Brooks, Brother Willis Randle, Brother Frank 
Blake, Brother Jessie Banks, Brother Frank Hoover, Brother Ben Simmons, 
Mother Sara Booker, Mother Ina Jenkins, Mother Ida Wilson, Mother Abbie 
Banks, Mother Ella Taylor, Mother Emma Brooks, and Deacon Payton Smith.
  The present pastor, Elder Dr. Percy Louis Washington, was appointed 
to serve on May 18, 2003 by Bishop T.T. Scott. Pastor Washington and 
his lovely wife, Glenda, have five sons and nine grandchildren.
  He and the Sweet Canaan congregation have worked hard together to 
preserve the history of Sweet Canaan by enclosing the whole building 
inside the Dr. Tyree and Mary Carr Multipurpose Building. The beautiful 
Carr Multipurpose Building houses not only the entire historic church, 
but it houses the fellowship hall, residential quarters, office and 
classroom space.
  On July 18, 2013, Bishop Charles Edward Blake, the Pastor of West 
Angeles Cathedral in Los Angeles, California, and the Presiding Bishop 
of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., visited Historic Sweet Canaan. 
They were joined at Sweet Canaan by General Board Members, Bishop 
Brandon Porter of Memphis, Tennessee, and Bishop Wooten of St. Louis, 
Missouri. Also joining Bishop Blake were several other bishops and more 
than half of the Trustee Board of the Church of God in Christ.
  Pastor Washington has said many times; ``When I went to Sweet Canaan, 
on my way to the church I saw many cows. When I got to the church I saw 
a honey bee hive in the back of the church. I knew I was in the right 
place. For I was in the Land of Milk and Honey--in the land of Canaan--
Sweet Canaan.''
  Sweet Canaan oftentimes invites many to praise and worship with them 
every Sunday. Their Prayer service begins at 9:00 a.m., Sunday school 
starts at 9:30 a.m., and Sunday Worship Service starts at 11:00 am.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
historic Sweet Canaan Church of God in Christ.

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