[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22904]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CARROLLTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 29, 2009

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the First Baptist 
Church of Carrollton, Texas. The church is celebrating its 100th 
anniversary, and I would like to take a moment to speak about the 
history of the church and its past and present contributions to our 
community.
  Established in 1909 by thirteen people, the First Baptist Church 
began its history at a missionary tent revival. The church conducted 
their services within the same tent of its establishment and at the 
home of one of its founders. On January 12, 1910, the church moved 
their services to an old bank building. Months following the move to 
the bank, the Baptist Ladies Aid Society graciously donated land to the 
church where the tabernacle was built. Over the next forty years, the 
tabernacle underwent building additions and extensive renovations to 
include a nursery, an education building, and parsonages.
  In 1952, with guidance from Reverend Thomas B. Guinn, the church 
began building a larger education building south of the sanctuary. In 
1955, the services were moved to the education building, and in 1957 a 
special auditorium was added to the building to hold the services. 
Twenty-nine years later the congregation would move again.
  On Easter Sunday, March 30, 1986, the present-day sanctuary was 
opened to the public, and on this day, 2,655 people came to celebrate 
it. As for the former church location, it was decided the building 
would be transformed into the International Missions Center. The center 
has hosted five missionary companies which have worked in Latin 
countries, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Africa.
  Today, the congregation has grown to have 4,500 members, and it 
continues to grow. With such a large congregation, the First Baptist 
Church has become a cornerstone of the community. The church involves 
itself in charity events and community programs. Under the leadership 
of Dr. Brent Taylor, the pastor since 1999, the church has continued 
programs such as the Bus Ministry which provides transportation to 
children and teenagers who are unable to attend service and the 
Friendship House which provides food, clothes, and Christmas gifts for 
families in need.
  I am honored to represent the First Baptist Church of Carrollton and 
I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the congregation upon 
their 100th anniversary.

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