[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 65 (Monday, April 15, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E466-E467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING FRIENDSHIP WORSHIP CENTER 75TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 2019

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a wonderful 
institution in Mount Vernon, the Friendship Worship Center, which this 
year celebrates its remarkable 75th Anniversary in the community.
  Friendship Worship empowers people with solid biblical principles, 
while advocating for justice, fairness, and delivering social services. 
The story of Friendship Worship begins in 1942, when a group of women 
from the Mount Vernon Community led by Mother Lillian Davis, an active 
missionary, began a Freewill Baptist Mission work. For two years these 
women shared in their homes the message and work of Christ. In 1944, 
the officials of the Freewill Baptist Conference came and officially 
organized the St. Paul Freewill Baptist Church of Mount Vernon, New 
York. Around the late 1940s the church was renamed Little Friendship 
United American Freewill Baptist Church. In 1950, Little Friendship 
became incorporated in the State of New York. During those early stages 
of the church development many different ministers and layperson held 
the church together. This was done under the supervision of the late 
Rev. N.E. Sharp, Moderator of the Northern Annual Conference of the 
United American Freewill Baptist Church. The first elected pastor of 
this church was the late Rev. B.T. Johnson who led the church from 
1948-1956. During his tenure Little Friendship purchased its church 
building at 358 South Ninth Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York. The 
successions of Pastors were Rev. S.H. Wylie 1956-1957, Rev. H. Miller 
1957-1958, Rev. O. E. Davis 1958-1959, Rev. Otis Park 1959-1983, Rev. 
Joe L. Brown 1983-1988, and finally my friend Elder C. Nathan Edwers 
1988 to present. In 1997, the church name was changed, and Corporation 
papers were amended to Friendship Unified Freewill Baptist Church of 
Mount Vernon, New York.
  Under the strong leadership of Pastor Edwers many new programs were 
established. Due to an expansion and betterment of the

[[Page E467]]

church, over $200,000 has been done in renovations since 1989. In 
August 1998 Pastor C. Nathan Edwers was led by the Lord to move 
Friendship Unified Freewill Baptist Church into $1.3 million edifice 
located at 261 East Lincoln Avenue in Mount Vernon at present. The 
church seating capacity is 1,200.
  In September 1998 the church was renamed Friendship Worship Center, 
The Family Center. In March 20, 1999 Pastor Edwers was consecrated as a 
Bishop. Friendship Worship Center is now on the cutting edge of the 
21st Century and every day its parishioners are helping to improve the 
Mount Vernon community and beyond.
  On this special occasion, I want to congratulate the entire 
Friendship Worship Center community on 75 amazing years of love and 
service.

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