[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                TRIBUTE TO BETHLEHEM A.M.E. ZION CHURCH

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 9, 1999

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 
congratulate Bethlehem A.M.E. Zion Church in Gary, IN, as it celebrates 
its 84th anniversary as a parish. The church will begin its three 
spirit-filled days of celebration with a banquet on Friday, November 
19, 1999, and culminating with a service at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, 
November 21, 1999. I would also like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate Reverend O.C. Comer, minister, on this glorious occasion.
  On November 19, Bethlehem A.M.E. Zion Church opens its 84th 
anniversary celebration with a dinner at 6 p.m. in the Banquet Hall of 
Unity A.M.E. Zion Church in Merrillville, Indiana. Dr. Sandra Gadson 
will be the guest speaker at this gala occasion. Dr. Gadson is the 
second vice president of Woman's Home and Overseas Missionary Society 
of the A.M.E. Zion Church. On November 20 the celebration continues 
with the church's second annual ``Back to Church Parade.'' A motorcade 
will leave the church at 10 a.m. on a ``ride to help bring people back 
to the church.'' The three-day celebration will conclude on November 21 
with two special services of praise and worship. Reverend Comer will 
deliver the message at the 11 a.m. service followed by the 3:30 p.m. 
service with special guest and speaker, The Right Reverend Enoch B. 
Rochester, Presiding Bishop of the Midwest Episcopal District of the 
A.M.E. Zion Church.
  A church of humble beginnings, Bethlehem African Methodist Episcopal 
Zion Church is the oldest A.M.E. Zion Church in the city of Gary. In 
November 1915, 15 people assembled in a storefront in the 1600 block of 
Washington Street in Gary, IN. The parishioners decided that Bethlehem 
A.M.E. Zion Church needed a permanent home, thus a frame building 
located on two lots at West 19th Avenue and Jackson Street were 
purchased. Later the frame structure was moved to the rear of the lots 
and used as a parsonage. A brick structure was eventually built on the 
lots at 560 West 19th Avenue, where the current church stands today. 
The congregation labored and toiled in the basement structure for over 
40 years, but in 1962, under the direction of Reverend Arthur W. Murphy 
and the parishioners at Bethlehem A.M.E. Zion Church, the upper edifice 
of the church was constructed and stands today as a monument of faith 
and spiritual enrichment to both the church membership and the Gary 
community.
  Over the years, the church has experienced some changes and was led 
by a variety of pastors. In spite of its many changes, the loyal 
parishioners continued to grow and prosper. On June 24, 1994, the 
Reverend O.C. Comer was appointed pastor of Bethlehem A.M.E. Zion 
Church. Under Reverend Comer's guidance, the church has started two new 
ministries including the Bus Ministry and the Street Ministry.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in congratulating the parish family of Bethlehem African Methodist 
Episcopal Zion Church, under the guidance of Reverend O.C. Comer, as 
they prepare to celebrate their 84th anniversary. All past and present 
parishioners and pastors should be proud of the numerous contributions 
they have made with love and devotion for their church throughout the 
past 84 years.

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