[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 10, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S3313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the legacy 
and mission of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, as they 
celebrate 100 years of fellowship and service to the greater Pontiac 
community.
  The New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church was founded in Pontiac, MI, 
in 1925. Established with the mission of empowering its members and the 
wider community, since its earliest days, it has served as a beacon, 
bringing together its congregants, local leaders, and other key 
community stakeholders to strengthen the spiritual fabric and build the 
resilience of Pontiac. A century later, its mark on the greater Pontiac 
area is indelible and most acutely felt in the countless residents 
whose lives have been lifted up by its endeavors.
  In 1992, the church opened the New Bethel Outreach Shelter, providing 
a safe, welcoming environment to vulnerable women and children. Since 
its opening, the shelter has stood as a barrier against housing 
insecurity for thousands in the Pontiac area. The church has also 
worked to combat food insecurity, establishing a food pantry in 1985 
that serves low-income families within the greater Pontiac area. And 
this year, the church intends to continue its social ministry by 
opening a community garden for the benefit of its congregation and the 
wider public.
  New Bethel's own Rev. Keyon Payton established the Institute for 
Trauma and Economic Justice, a nonprofit which aims ``to create a 
supply and demand economy of positive experiences'' by combating cycles 
of trauma in the underserved communities. His example has since 
inspired other churches across Michigan to institute similar 
initiatives.
  While serving the Pontiac community, New Bethel has also continued 
its spiritual mission to spread the gospel across generations and has 
focused on bringing young people of faith into its congregation. Every 
summer, the church's Camp Hosanna provides a welcoming space for 
elementary school-aged children to learn and grow, offering a forum 
where they can pursue their spiritual growth and academic excellence in 
tandem. New Bethel is also investing in Pontiac's future through the 
creation of an education scholarship fund. These efforts are making 
education more accessible to future generations, which is the key to 
our community's enduring prosperity.
  The impact of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on the Pontiac 
community and Oakland County as a whole is immeasurable and readily 
apparent in the lives of those who have benefited from both the 
fellowship of its congregation and the breadth of its charitable works. 
Throughout its century-long history, the leadership and congregation of 
New Bethel have demonstrated their faith through compassion, 
stewardship, and grace which has strengthened the fabric of our 
community. I ask you to join me in recognizing the New Bethel 
Missionary Baptist Church as they celebrate their centennial 
anniversary.

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