[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E645-E646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING WILIAM GILLISON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 15, 2021

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. 
William Gillison. Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Pastor William 
Gillison attended Lackawanna, New York schools and enrolled in the 
United States Army in 1965. Sixteen years later--in 1981--Reverend 
Gillison became the pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church. During his 
time at Mt. Olive, the church's capacity increased tenfold, from 150 to 
1,500.
  Early in his career, Reverend Gillison founded the Mt. Olive 
Development Corporation, which continues to provide subsidized 
apartments for low income residents. Mt. Olive also operates as a 
distribution center for food and other essentials in Western New York. 
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it served as a testing and vaccination 
site. Interviewed by WGRZ, Pastor Gillison said that ``The pandemic has 
really magnified and exposed in many cases the deficiencies in 
especially black and brown communities.'' Mt. Olive helped to lessen 
the racial disparities in vaccine distribution, furthering its mission 
and serving thousands of local community members.
  Mt. Olive serves in every season. During the summer, the Church hosts 
a cookout and fireworks show for families. In the fall, it provides 
Thanksgiving dinners to 1,500 families. In the winter, through its 
Angel Tree Ministry program, it gives Christmas gifts to children of 
incarcerated men and women. Before he became president, George W. Bush 
visited Mt. Olive and was impressed with its work.
  Pastor Gillison's experience with the government has not always been 
cordial. Working closely with attorney Johnnie Cochrane, Pastor 
Gillison fought to overturn a ban on bus routes to the Galleria Mall. 
This discriminatory practice prevented many people of color from 
shopping at the Mall, and even led to the killing of a worker who was 
forced to walk to her job at the Galleria Mall.
  Pastor Gillison has served two terms as the President of the Baptist 
Ministers Conference and the Baptist Great Lakes Conference. He is the 
recipient of honorary doctorate degrees and has been recognized by 
national organizations for his ministry and service. He is particularly 
known for his interfaith communication; Pastor Gillison has traveled to 
Israel multiple times and formed relationships with both government and 
religious officials. None of this would have been accomplished without 
the help of his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Antonia Gillison. 
She has been his greatest supporter. While being a pastor he has also 
maintained his strong fatherly presence with his children.
  Pastor Gillison has advanced our community spiritually, politically, 
and economically. He has been a tireless advocate for those with no 
hope and no voice. His leadership has transformed Mt. Olive into an 
indispensable beacon of light for our community and his work has 
touched lives across the country and world. During his fortieth 
anniversary as pastor, we celebrate how much Mt. Olive has 
accomplished, and we pray for the community it serves. Though he has 
accomplished much, Pastor Gillison is just grateful for the opportunity 
to serve. As he would say, ``To God be the Glory.''

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