[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    WELCOMING DR. SUZAN JOHNSON COOK

  (Mr. TOWNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rev. Dr. Suzan 
Johnson Cook. Rev. Cook is the pastor at the Believers' Christian 
Fellowship Church, which she founded in 1996 after serving as pastor of 
the Mariners' Temple Baptist Church in downtown Manhattan for 13 years. 
In 2002, Rev. Cook became the first woman elected president of the 
10,000-member Hampton, Virginia, University Ministers Conference, which 
represents all the historically African American denominations. Her 
list of other ``firsts'' includes: first woman appointed Chaplain of 
the New York Police Department and the first female baptist minister 
from the Bronx to receive a White House fellowship.
  A woman of promise, passion, diligence, and determination, Rev. Cook 
is the author of eight successful books. In 1997 Rev. Cook was featured 
by Ebony Magazine as one of the Nation's top 15 women in ministry.
  Rev. Cook has toured nationally with Bishop T.D. Jakes and the 
``God's Leading Ladies Conference.'' Her motto is ``If I can help 
somebody, then my living is not in vain.''
  A faculty member and graduate of Harvard University, she also 
received a doctorate of ministry degree from Union Theological 
Seminary, a master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, 
and a master of arts degree from Columbia University.
  Rev. Cook is married to Ronald Cook, and they reside in New York City 
with their two sons.
  Dr. Cook is a powerful orator and was recently described in the New 
York Times as ``Billy Graham and Oprah rolled into one.'' Her mentoring 
and leadership skills have now charged her to form The Woman in 
Ministry International Summit, which supports and advocates for women 
church leaders.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize this magnificent minister, 
scholar, and dynamic leader, and urge my colleagues to join me in 
paying tribute to this outstanding member of the clergy.

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