[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16984-16985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN CELEBRATION OF PASTOR JOHN RICE FOR 39 YEARS OF SERVICE AS PASTOR

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DEBORAH L. HALVORSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 7, 2009

  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the service 
of Pastor John Rice of Chicago Heights, Illinois. Pastor Rice has 
served his boyhood church, St. Bethel, for 39 years. Since he began his 
tenure, St. Bethel has flourished, with its membership growing to over 
300 families. The church has been able to undertake many new projects 
under Pastor Rice's leadership, including the construction of the 
Bethel Community Center. The construction of the community center and 
the growth of the church would not have been possible without the 
tireless efforts and faith of Pastor Rice.
  I have had the good fortune of working with Pastor Rice and have seen 
his work first hand. He has touched many lives, including the 
underprivileged, for whom he is a tireless champion. St. Bethel Church 
and the community of Chicago Heights are long indebted to Pastor Rice 
for his great service.
  On June 28, 2009, Pastor Rice will be honored at St. Bethel. He will 
be accepting much deserved praise on that day. It is with great pride 
that I recognize all of his many accomplishments and wish him a 
continued success.

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