[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 119 (Thursday, July 10, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E652-E653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING FRIENDSHIP AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CLARKSDALE, 
                              MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
celebrate a remarkable institution of faith, history, and service: 
Friendship African Methodist Episcopal Church in Clarksdale, 
Mississippi. For more than a century and a half, Friendship AME Church 
has stood as a steadfast pillar of spiritual leadership, community 
empowerment, and social justice.
  Founded in 1869 by Reverend Thomas W. Stringer, one of the pioneering 
leaders of the AME Church in Mississippi, Friendship AME has served not 
only as a sanctuary of worship but as a beacon of hope and advocacy in 
the Clarksdale community. The land upon which the church was first 
built was generously given by John Clark, the founder of Clarksdale, 
and it became home to the first school for Black children in the area--
underscoring its early commitment to education and equality.
  During the turbulent years of the Civil Rights Movement, Friendship 
AME provided refuge and became a center for organizing efforts that 
sought to dismantle segregation and promote justice. It welcomed Dr. 
Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Jesse Jackson, and countless other leaders 
who rallied the community and inspired a generation toward action and 
faith.
  The church's legacy is not only etched in the lives it has changed 
but also in its architecture--through its red brick Gothic Revival 
sanctuary and the historic Colonial Revival Haven United Methodist 
Church, which together symbolize resilience and sacred tradition.
  Despite enduring hardships, including a devastating fire, the 
congregation rebuilt the

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church through faith and unity. Now located at 120 Martin Luther King 
Boulevard, Friendship AME Church remains a testament to perseverance--
where, as members say, ``The building is historic, but the Church is 
eternal.''
  Under the dedicated leadership of Rev. Darren Thomas, II, the church 
continues to minister to the spiritual and social needs of its members 
and neighbors. Pastor Thomas reminds us that the enduring legacy of 
Friendship AME is rooted in the power of faith, hard work, and unity--a 
legacy that calls on us all to help build a brighter future for 
generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Friendship African 
Methodist Episcopal Church for its monumental contributions to faith, 
education, civil rights, and community uplift. As we celebrate a 
century and a half years of unwavering service, may we honor its past, 
embrace its present, and support its mission for years to come.

                          ____________________