[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 41 (Friday, March 3, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 3, 2023

  Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ebenezer 
Baptist Church of Woodbridge, VA, a stalwart of the Seventh District, 
in honor of its 140th anniversary.
  In 1881, only seven years after the Town of Occoquan's incorporation, 
the land that Ebenezer Baptist Church would eventually be built upon 
was purchased, setting the stage for it to become one of the first 
Black churches in all of Northern Virginia.
  Founded by the formerly enslaved Reverend Lewis Henry Bailey, 
Ebenezer Baptist Church quickly developed an identity of dedicated 
ministry and servant leadership to its community. Though the first 
cornerstone of Ebenezer Baptist Church was laid decades ago in May of 
1883, the church's communal foundation is unwavering and its spirit as 
alive today, as it was 140 years ago.
  Born from these roots, Ebenezer Baptist Church has continued to 
strive toward its focus of ``putting the family back together.''
  From hosting the Woodbridge Toastmasters Club to community food 
giveaways to Sunday services, Ebenezer Baptist Church remains a primary 
source of enrichment of the mind, body, and soul for many residents of 
Virginia's Seventh District.
  As a fixture of the community, Ebenezer Baptist Church has faithfully 
answered the bell and opened its doors when needed most.
  Notably, under the leadership of Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Charles 
A. Lundy and First Lady Reverend Jacquelyn Lundy, during the height of 
the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebenezer Baptist Church provided critical 
community health services to the Occoquan District and Prince William 
County. This selfless service included providing food and shelter to 
those in need, while also hosting vital testing and vaccinations.
  The combination of grace and effectiveness with which Ebenezer 
Baptist Church has served the Seventh District is extraordinary. As the 
U.S. Representative for Virginia's Seventh District, I am grateful for 
the tremendous community asset that is Ebenezer Baptist Church of 
Woodbridge, VA, and wish them another 140 years of exceptional 
communion, ministry, and service.