[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 76 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E622-E623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VIENNA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2018

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th 
anniversary of First Baptist Church of Vienna, which has been a fixture 
of our Northern Virginia community since its founding. In 1867, shortly 
after the conclusion of the Civil War, Union Army Major O.E. Hine 
presented the founders of First Baptist Church with a deed to a small 
piece of land he owned for the purposes of building educational and 
religious facilities. Using lumber acquired from the Freedman's Bureau 
and from barracks that were being torn down, the first church building 
was erected on Lawyer's Road in the town of Vienna, where the 
congregation would remain until relocating to its current location on 
Orchard Street ninety years later in 1957.
   Throughout its 150-year history, First Baptist Church of Vienna has 
served as the spiritual and religious home to countless worshipers. In 
addition to fulfilling its religious missions, the philanthropic work 
of the church and its members is extensive, both locally and 
internationally. Working with area churches, First Baptist has raised 
over $28,000 for tsunami relief in Asia and Africa, contributed over 
$53,000 to the Community Coalition for Haiti for earthquake relief in 
that devastated country, and

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donated $5,000 to a build a new community college in Zimbabwe.
   The congregation has also participated in the Rise Against Hunger 
campaign, which raised more than $14,000 and packaged 50,000 meals for 
communities around the world suffering from chronic hunger.
   In our own Northern Virginia community, First Baptist has partnered 
with numerous nonprofits for a variety of charitable causes, including 
Habitat for Humanity, the Northern Virginia Clergy Council, OAR 
Fairfax, and the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna. Truly, First 
Baptist Church of Vienna is following the ethos of ministry and working 
for the betterment of all in our community. This ethos is prominent in 
Northern Virginia, and I am confident this is part of the reason why 
this congregation has remained here for as long as it has, and why it 
will continue to thrive.
   Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have been a partner with First Baptist 
Church of Vienna on many of these initiatives and have been fortunate 
to join them for worship many times. I commend Pastor Vernon C. Walton 
as well as former Pastor Kenny Smith for their leadership and devotion 
to their faith and our community. I also congratulate the entire 
ministry and congregation on this milestone, and ask my colleagues to 
join me in wishing them continued success.

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