[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     165TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROME, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 24, 2000

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the history of the Seventh District 
of Georgia is rich in the accomplishments of its citizens and 
institutions. Today I recognize the celebration of the 165th 
anniversary of Georgia's Rome First Baptist Church. The Church has 
played a historic role in Rome and Floyd County in northwest Georgia.
  The ``Rome Baptist Church'' was organized on May 16, 1835, by six 
charter members. The first church home was a frame building at the 
corner of West Eighth Avenue and West First Street. In 1855, the second 
sanctuary was constructed on the corner of East Fourth Avenue and East 
First Street. This church was damaged during the course of the War 
Between the States, and was closed from 1864 to 1865. The Church was 
re-opened in the spring of 1867 after extensive repairs were made. In 
October 1882, the church voted to ``take down the present building and 
put up a new one in proper style; a house that would seat seven to 
eight hundred persons and would be a credit to our denomination and 
city and would probably cost $18,000 to $20,000.'' This new, bigger 
building was dedicated in 1883. The name was changed in 1893 to ``First 
Baptist Church.'' Later, in 1924, the Sunday School annex was added to 
the Sanctuary, and in 1947 the new chapel was dedicated. The present 
sanctuary was constructed in 1958. The First Baptist currently has 
approximately 1,000 resident members.
  The First Baptist Church of Rome has always been involved in 
missions. Luther R. Gwaltney, pastor of First Baptist from 1869-1876, 
was instrumental in founding Cherokee Baptist Female College (now 
Shorter College) with the help of Alfred and Martha Shorter in 1873. 
Several other churches in Rome grew out of First Baptist, including 
Thankful Baptist Church, founded by many former slave members of Rome 
Baptist Church in 1867; DeSoto Baptist Church (later called Fifth 
Avenue Baptist Church) in 1882; Lindale First Baptist Church in 1898; 
East Side Baptist (later called Second Avenue Baptist) in 1907; South 
Broad Baptist in 1909; DeSoto Park Baptist in 1910; Lahaina Baptist 
Church, Maui, Hawaii in 1973; Lebanon Valley Baptist Church, 
Pennsylvania in 1979; and Towne View Baptist Church in Kennesaw, 
Georgia in 1989.
  The church has sponsored numerous members on mission trips to many 
parts of the world, such as Liberia in 1986, and Honduras in 1988; a 
youth mission trip to Lake Placid, New York; a mission trip to Panama; 
a mission team to Prague in 1995; a mission trip to Spain in 1996; 
mission trips to Romania, Czech Republic, Tennessee, and South Dakota 
in 1997; a medical mission to Honduras in 1998; a mission trip to the 
Middle East in 1998; and trips to England and Alaska in 1999. In 
addition, the Koinonia Soup Kitchen was founded in 1982 by the downtown 
churches and meals have been served the last week of each month in the 
fellowship hall since that time.
  The mission of the First Baptist Church is to be a community of 
believers who seek to mold their lives after the heart of Jesus Christ, 
and where they seek to be His hands in missions and ministry. ``Seeking 
His heart . . . being His hands.''
  When speaking of the South, the phrase ``the Bible Belt'' is often 
used. The importance of family values and family worship is of profound 
importance to the majority of the people in Georgia, and they are proud 
of their religious beliefs and heritage. Congratulations to the staff 
and congregation of the First Baptist Church of Rome, for their 
devotion to God and their service to our community and fellow citizens.

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