[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11656-11657]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                PAYING TRIBUTE TO GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Grace Community Church 
in Boulder City, Nevada, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this 
year.
  The Grace Community Church began as an inter-denominational 
Protestant religious church in April of 1932, and the first service was 
held on January 29, 1933. The church was officially dedicated on 
February 22, 1933, ``to the glory of God and the Blessing of Man.'' The 
church quickly became a center for various community groups, and 
assumed a key role in the development of the community.
  The Reverend Thomas Stevenson of California, who gave his first 
sermon in the unfinished basement of the church, was chosen as the 
church's first minister, and led the church's

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congregation until 1937. The Reverend Harold Eymann replaced Reverend 
Stevenson, and the formal by-laws for the congregation were adopted and 
the church was incorporated under state law during Reverend Eymann's 
ministry. Reverend Eymann left Grace Community Church in 1942, feeling 
he should serve as a military chaplain during World War II. Reverend 
Winston Trever from Azusa, California served from 1942-1949. The 
Reverend Olaf Stoeve ministered at Grace from 1949-1953. The 
Presbyterian Reverend Earl Seymour Fox (1953-1961) found the 
congregation growing and recommended that two services be held on 
Sunday and a building be added next to the American Legion Hall, which 
soon became Fox Hall.
  Boulder City incorporated as a Nevada Municipality in 1960 and 
inherited all government land leases. The Reverend Guy Holliday (1961-
1978) became the minister, and Grace Community Church entered a 50-year 
lease for the land under the church facility. The Reverend Melvin 
Pritts (1978-1982), from First Methodist Church of Phoenix, succeeded 
Reverend Holliday. The Reverend M. Kenneth Criswell (1982-1985) arrived 
from Ventura, California in time to give support and leadership to the 
committee working on the church's 50th anniversary. He found a debt-
free church and a vital, caring congregation. The Reverend Dr. John J. 
Rousseau (1985-1990), who served three Methodist churches in Hawaii, 
arrived on July I, 1985. The Reverend Dr. Richard Smith (1990-1999), 
was serving Grace Community Church when the land was purchased from 
Boulder City in 1990. The Reverend Dr. Ronald S. Freel (1999-2004), who 
was worshipping with and volunteering as an Associate Pastor, became 
the Senior Pastor. Pastor Kevin Roach, the new senior pastor, preached 
his first sermon on July 18, 2004, and continues to serve today. 
Serving under the direction of Senior Pastor Kevin Roach are: Associate 
Pastor Gard Jameson, Music Director Carol Simak, Assistant Music 
Director Barbara Walker, and Sharon Wieczorek, who served as the Office 
Manager for the past 7 years is retiring, and is being replaced by Jan 
Liebhauser.
  The church recently recognized 14 people who have been members for 48 
years or longer, and four who have been members for more than 60 years. 
Carol Bourne, Jack and Dorothy Rants, Lin Diebold, Roy and Elnor Gear, 
Byron Miller, Robert Austin, Del and Eloise Blue, Agnes Lockette, 
Lillian Rigney, and Bob and Virginia Moore have all been members for 48 
years or longer, and at the age of 94, Mary Eaton has been a member for 
72 years, Violet Tracht at 96, has been a member for 63 years, with 
Velma Stice a member for 65 years and Innis Risley being at the 60 year 
mark.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Grace Community Church and 
its accomplishments in Nevada's history. I commend the church for its 
long history of service to the city of Boulder City and wish them good 
fortune for the next 75 years.

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