[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 72 (Thursday, April 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        HONORING JOHNSON CHAPEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JUAN VARGAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2017

  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Johnson Chapel 
African Methodist Episcopal Church and its pastors for 100 years of 
teaching, preaching the Gospel, and making strides in our community.
  The Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church was founded in 1915 by John Fair, 
James Craig, Roxie Graves, Cora Martin, Ed Ackers, and Nancy Craig. It 
was formally established in 1917 with Reverend S.E. Edwards as its 
first pastor. Originally a small congregation meeting in a house on 
State Street, the church is now highly regarded within the community 
and has relocated to a significantly larger building on Hamilton Street 
in El Centro, California.
  The African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed out of the Free 
African Society, established in 1787. African Americans faced unending 
discrimination while trying to practice their faith in American 
Methodist churches. Some churchgoers went as far as pulling African 
Americans off their knees as they prayed. Black members of St. George's 
Methodist Episcopal Church split off to create their own African 
congregation. Wanting to avoid discrimination and obtain religious 
autonomy, many black Methodists began to switch over to African 
Methodist Episcopal churches.
  Currently, the A.M.E. Church has membership across twenty Episcopal 
Districts in thirty-nine countries, on five continents. Although the 
church was founded by people of African descent and heritage, it is 
open to people of any background or race. They place emphasis on the 
plain and simple gospel and tirelessly work to spread the word of Jesus 
Christ.
  The Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church has been led by thirty-one dedicated 
ministers over the past 100 years. They have worked to improve the 
church and build a community around it. Not only does the church take 
care of their own members, they have also provided educational programs 
and outreach to benefit youth in their area.
  I would like to recognize the Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church for their 
100 years of dedicated teaching and service within our community.

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