[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12455-12456]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO BISHOP VICTOR CURRY, PASTOR OF NEW BIRTH BAPTIST CHURCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand here in the well of the 
Congress of the United States to pay distinct honor and tribute to one 
of Miami's young great leaders, Bishop Victor T. Curry.
  Victor T. Curry is now pastor of a New Birth Baptist Church in Miami. 
I

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want to evoke the same sentiments of joy and gratitude that the 10,000 
members of the New Birth Baptist Church in Miami lifted up to Almighty 
God this past weekend at the inauguration of the New Birth Cathedral.
  Mr. Speaker, Bishop Curry truly represents the best and noblest of 
our community. As a bishop, pastor, and teacher, he exudes a remarkable 
wisdom in leading his congregation in the ways of God, and has 
tirelessly worked to enlighten our community on the agenda of spiritual 
wisdom and good governance impacting our duties and responsibilities.
  It is indeed fitting for those of us who subscribe to the Judeo-
Christian faith to acknowledge the important role that Bishop Victor 
Curry plays in the day-to-day affairs of our community.
  I want to commend his tremendous work in guiding not only the members 
of his church, but also the residents of our entire community. He has 
exemplified the example of Christ as the Good Shepherd and has led his 
flock of believers by sharing with them the words of God's wisdom and 
the good news emanating from the gospel.
  Bishop Curry's motto is from vision to victory. This motto has 
positively impacted the lives of countless people. Along with many 
others in our community, I am indeed a fortunate beneficiary of Bishop 
Curry's televised teachings and radio ministry through the church-owned 
radio station, WMBM 1490 AM.
  He is especially effective in demonstrating both by way of word and 
example and unconditional love for and commitment to the children and 
the elderly, the poor and the disenfranchised. He reaffirms the 
centrality of God in our daily lives, conscious of the fact that the 
mandate of our faith must characterize our attitudes toward those who 
could least fend for themselves.
  Our weekly paper, the Miami Times aptly describes Bishop Curry as a 
forceful, courageous and visionary leader not only of the religious 
community, but also of our wider society, with the recognition that our 
churches are a part of larger network of institutions that are the 
pillars of our community.
  Bishop Curry is fully living up to his vocation as a caring and 
effective pastor. His standard for learning, sharing and achieving has 
won the accolades of our ecumenical community. Public and private 
agencies have often cited Bishop Curry for his untiring consecration to 
the truth and his uncompromising stance on simple justice and equal 
opportunity for all.
  Moreover, Mr. Speaker, Bishop Curry's mission in teaching many a 
wayward youth has become legendary. He has gained the confidence of 
countless parents and teachers who see him as a no-nonsense motivator. 
They are willing to entrust him with the future of their children, 
fully cognizant and genuinely confident that they would learn from him 
the pursuit of academic scholarship and the desire for personal 
excellence under the tenor of a faith-based, conscientious commitment 
and rigorous discipline.
  With the recent inauguration of the New Birth Cathedral, our 
community is deeply touched and will benefit greatly by his undaunted 
leadership and perseverance. As head of one of the fastest growing 
churches in Florida, Bishop Curry preaches and lives by the adage that 
under God's providence our quest for personal integrity and spiritual 
growth is not beyond the reach of those willing to dare the impossible.
  As a man of God and as an indomitable leader, he has indeed earned 
our deepest respect and genuine admiration.
  This is a magnificent legacy, Mr. Speaker, of Bishop Victor T. Curry. 
I am truly privileged to enjoy his friendship and confidence, and I am 
grateful that he continues to teach us to live by the noble ethic of 
loving God by serving our fellow man. Bishop Curry has lived by the 
adage that service is a price we pay for the space which God has let us 
occupy.

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