[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 150 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING AN ARIZONA LEGEND, DR. WARREN H. STEWART, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 19, 2022

  Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an Arizona legend, Dr. 
Warren H. Stewart, Sr., and congratulate him for reaching the milestone 
of 45 years of service as the senior pastor of First Institutional 
Baptist Church of Phoenix. Our community is so fortunate that Pastor 
Stewart has devoted his life to meaningful service that has made a 
difference in the lives of many, and I am personally grateful to call 
this civil rights leader, humanitarian, scholar and author a friend.
  Pastor Stewart answered the call early in life and preached his first 
sermon when he was just 17 years old. Several years later he became the 
pastor at First Institutional Baptist, the youngest--and eventually 
longest serving--in the church's history.
  During his tenure, he has led his congregation through transformative 
growth and his impact stretches far beyond his spirited sermons from 
the pulpit. He created a family resource center, the Samaritan House 
for homeless families, a home for teenage mothers and expanded the 
church's education and outreach services. Each of these have changed 
the trajectory of people's lives for the better.
  Through many challenging moments in our community's recent history, 
Pastor Stewart has offered a voice of moral clarity. He's stood up to 
the darkest forces in our state and prevailed. When the extremists 
first stopped Arizona from recognizing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, it 
was Pastor Stewart who organized, mobilized and energized the campaign 
to make that day a reality in our state.
  It's not just Arizona where his legacy lives. He's preached 
throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries. While 
overseas, Pastor Stewart helped build a new church edifice and 
parsonage in the Republic of South Africa.
  Arizona is fortunate to have experienced 45 years of Pastor Stewart's 
leadership, and we are hopeful for many more.
  I thank Pastor Stewart for his friendship and service, and extend 
congratulations to him on this significant milestone.

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