[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E429-E430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE 208TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EUGENE SIMON VINDMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2026

  Mr. VINDMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 208th 
anniversary of the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Stafford County, 
Virginia.
  Mount Olive Baptist Church has a rich history that is marked by 
resilience and courage. On May 16, 1818, five Black landowners gathered 
near Roseville in Western Stafford County, Virginia to found the 
church. Their first service was held beneath a simple slab-wood 
shelter, where a congregation began to take shape under conditions that 
required far more than faith alone.
  In 1818 Virginia, it was illegal for Black people to assemble without 
a white person present. As a result, Reverend Crutcher, a white 
minister, was required to attend as a legal requirement.
  Yet it was the five Black landowners who made the true foundation 
possible, men who owned the land, chose to worship together, and 
accepted the risks of gathering in an unjust system.
  Although they were denied formal recognition, they were the driving 
force behind the church's formation and worked tirelessly to ensure its 
growth.
  Over the years, Mount Olive Baptist Church has grown and flourished, 
expanding its ministries and outreach to serve a growing congregation. 
Today, it offers Sunday school programs, men's and women's fellowship 
ministries, youth and adult choirs, and a wide range of services that 
serve the broader Stafford community.
  The congregation's unwavering commitment to faith laid the foundation 
for the community that still thrives today. For 208 years, Mount Olive 
Baptist Church has stood as a sanctuary for worship and spiritual 
nourishment.
  As we celebrate this milestone, let us honor the legacy of those five 
individuals who contributed to the church's mission over the

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years. Their dedication has helped build a thriving community that will 
continue to flourish for generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and 
celebrating Mount Olive Baptist Church on its 208th anniversary. I am 
honored to represent the families and individuals who make up this 
caring and loving community, and I look forward to celebrating their 
continued success for years to come.

                          ____________________