[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 156 (Friday, September 10, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 CELEBRATING THE JEFFERSON AVENUE CHURCH OF CHRIST'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. JOHN W. ROSE

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 10, 2021

  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 150th Anniversary 
of the Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ located in my hometown of 
Cookeville, Tennessee. What began as a small number of Christians 
meeting in 1871 is now a strong institution providing generations with 
a place to practice their faith and be a part of a supportive 
community.
  In their early years, the church shared a building with a Methodist 
church on what today is known as Lowe Avenue. In 1874, the congregation 
moved to a new building north of the county square on the comer of 
Washington and Freeze Street. In 1908, to accommodate their growing 
congregation, the church built a new place of worship on Broad Street 
and took the name Broad Street Church of Christ.
  In 1909, seeing the need and benefit of higher education, Jere 
Whitson and other members of the Broad Street congregation led the 
founding of the University of Dixie, commonly called Dixie College and 
now known as Tennessee Technological University. The school currently 
has an enrollment of over 10,000 students and offers a wide variety of 
degrees at different levels from eight academic schools and colleges. I 
am proud to be an alumnus from this university and take pride in their 
founding and traditions.
  As the area grew, the Broad Street Church of Christ congregation 
moved to plant other congregations in the area. They acquired land, 
supported construction of new church buildings, and identified members 
of Broad Street who were willing to be the initial members of the new 
congregations. These church plants are still active today. As the Broad 
Street building aged, the members decided in 1962 it was time to move 
south to the current location at 521 South Jefferson.
  Today, the Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ, led by the ministry 
team of Andy Brewster as the pulpit minister, Evan Burns as associate 
minister, Jesse Bates as youth minister, and Bo Perez as the Spanish-
language minister, continues its commitment to mission work worldwide. 
Currently, it supports 30 ministers, 40 congregations, and a bible 
school in Nicaragua by providing humanitarian aid and training. They 
support nine preachers and a preaching school in Panama and the San 
Blas Islands. Jefferson Avenue also is committed to Healing Hands 
International and their work in developing countries, providing access 
to clean water and medical supplies. They continue to spread the word 
of God throughout the world through support of World Christian 
Broadcasting as well as Gospel Chariot Ministries who offer mobile 
evangelistic teams.
  The Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ is also making a difference 
here at home. When Gatlinburg Church of Christ lost its building to the 
2016 wildfires, Jefferson Avenue was moved to assist in the rebuilding 
of their congregation. In March of 2020, when tornados in Cookeville 
resulted in tragic loss of life, Jefferson Avenue served as one of many 
distribution centers for emergency supplies. It also helped with direct 
assistance to many in need.
  Christian organizations like The Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ 
are the bedrock of our communities in Middle Tennessee. Madam Speaker, 
I would like you to join me in honoring and congratulating the 
Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ for 150 years of dedication and 
commitment to spreading the gospel right here at home and abroad.

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