[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18375]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO MIDDLE VALLEY CHURCH OF GOD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Middle 
Valley Church of God in Hixson, TN, and join them in celebrating 60 
years of community service on November 1, 2006.
  In 1946, 17 devoted charter members established Middle Valley Church 
of God under the leadership of L.W. Ledbetter who served as the first 
pastor. Within a year of its organization, charter members built the 
first church on that site and held the first service there on July 12, 
1947. Since then, 19 pastors have served this church, including current 
pastor Mitch McClure, the church has undergone major renovations, and 
the congregation has grown to 250 members including the only surviving 
charter member, Ruth Underwood Porter.
  For the last 60 years, Middle Valley Church of God has focused on 
community ministry. They have developed partnerships with Memorial 
North Park Hospital, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Angel Food 
Ministries, Ganns Middle Valley Elementary School, Smokey Mountain 
Children's Home, Church of God Chaplains Commission, Church of God 
World Missions, Operation Christmas Child, and various other 
organizations. In addition, the church hosts a grief support group 
through Legacy Funeral Services and serves as a voting precinct for the 
Hamilton County Election Commission. They soon hope to host a community 
meeting to address the methamphetamine crisis our region is currently 
battling.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the United States House of Representatives 
join me in thanking the congregation of Middle Valley Church of God and 
Pastor Mitch McClure for 60 years of commitment to their faith and 
service to the local community.

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