[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4643]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND RODNEY ANNIS AND HIS CONGREGATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 1999

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to congratulate 
Reverend Rodney Annis and his congregation at First Baptist Church on 
the upcoming expansion to their present facility.
  First Baptist Church has been a prominent fixture in the Fosterburg 
community since its founding 142 years ago, when a group of German 
immigrants established this farming community. Today, a 14,000-square-
foot addition is scheduled to be made to the present church, providing 
offices and a recreation center for a multigenerational congregation.
  This addition will allow First Baptist Church to both continue and 
expand a tradition of service that started almost a century and a half 
ago.
  Like you, I am pleased to witness First Baptist Church's leadership 
and growth in the Fosterburg community.

                          ____________________