[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            IN HONOR OF THE REVEREND MARVIN DAVID WILLLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Reverend Marvin David 
Williams, Pastor and Founder of the Greater St. Stephen United Church 
of God, in recognition of his service to both his church and his 
community.
  Reverend Williams, born to the late Reverend Norman Williams and 
Rossie Lee Williams in North Carolina, was reared in the St. John 
Missionary Baptist Church where he accepted Christ at a young age. He 
graduated from the Pender County public school system with honors and 
furthered his education at the City University of New York where he 
earned a degree in Public Administration. Reverend Williams extensively 
studied Theology at the Bethel Bible Institute.
  With his mother's passing immediately prior to his high school 
graduation, Marvin Williams moved to Brooklyn where he found work in 
order to send money home to his younger siblings for their education. 
He joined the United Pentecostal House of Prayer where he accepted his 
call to the ministry. After 18 years of faithfully serving at the 
United Pentecostal House of Prayer, he accepted the assistant 
pastorship position at St. Matthew Glorious United Church of God. After 
serving in the position of assistant pastor for four years, Reverend 
Williams founded St. Stephen United Church of God in 1974, which was 
renamed Greater St. Stephen United Church of God after moving to its 
new home in 1980.
  As Pastor, Marvin Williams' church operates as a non-profit community 
based organization that offers a variety of community programs 
including a soup kitchen, food pantry, clothing bank, as well as both 
after school and summer day camp programs. Reverend Williams is also 
renowned for sponsoring programs, which assist individuals in moving 
towards self-sufficiency by helping them to get jobs by training them, 
and building connections with agencies that will hire.
  Reverend Williams' success in the Church has not been limited to 
being the founder of the overwhelmingly successful Greater St. Stephen 
Church, but also extends to his exaltation to the office of Overseer as 
well as his consecration as a bishop in 1998. Bishop Williams also 
serves as Chairman of the General Board of Directors of the United 
Church of God of America Incorporated in addition to holding membership 
on many other prestigious boards.
  Bishop Williams is married to Callie Louise Powell. Together they 
have been blessed with eight children, thirteen grandchildren, and a 
host of godchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, Reverend Marvin David Williams devotes his life to 
serving his community through his church. As such, he is indeed worthy 
of receiving our recognition today. I hope that all of my colleagues 
will join me in honoring this truly remarkable man.

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