[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18774]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 IN RECOGNITION OF THE FOURTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

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                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2000

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, it has been 2000 years since our Lord was 
borne, and for one hundred of those years, his people have been served 
by the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church. I wish that prior 
obligations did not prevent me from joining you as you celebrate this 
milestone in your impressive new sanctuary.
  But I am reminded that Jesus said his church would be built of living 
stones--of people--who are far more important than any structure, no 
matter how great and how beautiful it is.
  When Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church was founded a century 
ago by Reverend Willie Carter and Reverend John Bellamy, the church 
family worshipped under a brush arbor of vine and fig tree leaves. A 
man of this world would have seen a small group praying under a humble 
roof of green which would turn brown by winter. But a man of the spirit 
would have seen God laying living foundation stones for a church that 
would still be standing and growing 100 years hence.
  Like many church bodies, the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church 
evolved over time. Originally part of the Mount Canaan Baptist Church, 
its members formed the New Mount Canaan Baptist Church. In 1905, a plot 
of land was purchased on Fourth Street, where a small shelter was built 
and the church body met in the home of Deacon and Sister B.A. Parker. 
At this time, it adopted its present name. In 1935, reflecting the 
growing church body, a new sanctuary was built at the corner of Third 
Avenue and Fifth Street.
  In 1961, Reverend Johnny Flakes Jr. accepted the call to pastor the 
church and helped lead the church into a bright future.
  Under his leadership, the church was renovated in 1966. In 1977, a 
new two-story education building with a kitchen and banquet hall was 
built. In 1999, work was finished on your new state of the art 
sanctuary. More importantly, he was working, with God's grace, to build 
the real body of the church. Membership is over 3000, and growing, both 
in numbers and in spirit.
  This church is a living demonstration of the power of God to work in 
men and women's lives. Rev. Flakes, your church has had a glorious 
first century, and God willing, it will have many more to come. 
Congratulations.

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