[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22915]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING PASTORS RANDALL AND SHARLENE HOLTS ON THIRTY YEARS OF 
                                MARRIAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 17, 2005

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate and pay 
tribute to two people who are bound both by marriage, and by their 
service to God and our community. It is one of these ties that I want 
to recognize today, for Pastors Randall and Sharlene Holts of New Hope 
Missionary Baptist Church are celebrating their 30th wedding 
anniversary.
  Reverend Randall E. Holts is the Senior Pastor of the New Hope 
Missionary Baptist Church of Miami. Since 1985, Pastor Holts has served 
as the Chief Administrator responsible for administering the spiritual 
and temporal affairs of the church. Under his dynamic leadership the 
congregation has grown to more than 2,500 members. In addition, in 
1997, Pastor Holts and his leadership team organized and established 
the ``New Hope Development Center, Inc.'', a 501(c)3 non-profit 
organization. The mission of NHDC is to foster self-sufficiency of 
families through economic empowerment, and delivering human and social 
services to improve the quality of life for residents in the community.
  Mrs. Sharlene D. Holts currently serves as Pastor of Women's Ministry 
at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Miami, Florida. In 
December of 1995, Mrs. Holts heard and accepted the call of God 
summoning her to the Gospel Ministry. Since that time, she has 
faithfully prepared herself in prayer and study of the Word to do God's 
will.
  Pastors Randall and Sharlene Holts were high school sweethearts, and 
are currently partners in life, as well as, ministry. They are the 
proud parents of Shontel Holts-Rich, Ericka Holts and Randall Holts, 
Jr.
  Each is a valuable contributing member of the South Florida family, 
and together they have truly emerged as leaders helping to foster the 
empowerment of a people and an overall better quality of life in our 
community. Our prayers and good wishes go with them for many more 
happy, productive years in the future.

                          ____________________