[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 20, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E165-E166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING BELVIN D. WARE AND MACEDONIA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN 
                             MACON, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 20, 2024

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
appointment of a dedicated servant leader and a true visionary for the 
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Macon, Georgia, Minister Belvin 
D. Ware. Minister Ware was elected by the church to serve as Head 
Pastor in December of 2023, and he was officially installed at the 
church on February 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.
  A native of Macon, Georgia, Belvin D. Ware was born to the union of 
Denise T. Jones and Lawrence F. Ware, Jr. both of Macon, Georgia. 
Minister Ware completed his childhood education in Macon and is a 
graduate of Central High School's Class of 1996. He is currently in the 
process of completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies. 
Minister Ware is also a United States Marine, joining in 1998 and 
reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant (E6) where he served for over 
sixteen years before receiving an Honorable Discharge.
  Minister Ware first accepted Christ at the young age of seven years 
old at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, and he accepted the call to 
ministry in December of 2012. He gave his initial sermon on September 
29, 2013, at New Life Family Worship in Jacksonville, North Carolina 
where he also received his License of Ministry. In July of 2018, 
Minister Ware accepted a full-time position at Macedonia Missionary 
Baptist Church as the Servant Leader of Children, Youth, and Young 
Adults. After one year of successfully mentoring the church's youth and 
bringing them closer to the Lord, Lead Pastor Eddie Smith ordained Mr. 
Ware as a Minister of Gospel in October 2019 and named him Assistant to 
the Pastor.
  During his tenure as Servant Leader of Children, Youth, and Young 
Adults, Minister Ware was responsible for evaluating, planning, and 
implementing a thorough course of action for the youth to grow in their 
faith. He facilitated Bible Study and Youth Church, oversaw the 
baptisms of eight young people and grew youth membership at Macedonia 
through outreach at local colleges and universities. Furthermore, 
Minister Ware has been instrumental in local community outreach--most 
notably his ministry at Bruce Elementary School where he visited at 
least twice a month to mentor at risk youths and facilitate two coat 
drives in which Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church donated over 250 
winter coats to underprivileged youth. Following his efforts at the 
school, the Bibb County Board of Education selected Minister Ware to be 
a sitting member on the board to hire Bruce Elementary's next 
principal. Additionally, as Assistant to the Pastor, Minister Ware 
began the process and coordinated training with Middle Georgia Food 
Bank to establish Macedonia as a local agency to establish a food bank 
on church grounds.
  Minister Ware has been recognized numerous times for his professional 
achievements. He is a recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps 
Achievement Medal, Certificate of Commendation, and Letter of 
Appreciation. He was recognized by the Middle-Georgia Black Pages as a 
Young Entrepreneur and Professional in 2019 and was also nominated for 
Leadership Macon in 2022, a year-long program that introduces a class 
of rising community leaders to the successes and challenges in Macon-
Bibb County's public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
  Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that ``Service is the 
rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' 
Belvin Ware has paid his rent many times over and still continues to 
give a prodigious amount of love and service back to his community. He 
is currently the Executive Director for Heal the Hood Empowering 
Movement, a community initiative to cure violence and to bring economic 
power back to the Macon community through mentoring, job placement, and 
prison reform. He is also a Co-founder of the Concord Project which is 
a partnership between the local clergy and the Bibb County Sheriff's 
Office.

[[Page E166]]

  Minister Ware has accomplished many things in his life, but none of 
it would have been possible without the enduring love and support of 
his loving wife of over fifteen years, Aisha N. Ware, as well as his 
sons, Kingston Josiah and Kingsley Uriah.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and 
me, along with more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second 
Congressional District, in recognizing and commending Minister Belvin 
D. Ware, on his continued service as the newly appointed Pastor of 
Macon, Georgia's Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

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