[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24531]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF DR. DANIEL SIMMONS AND THE MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 2009

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Dr. Daniel Simmons and the Mount Zion Baptist Church of Albany, GA. On 
Sunday, October 11, the Mount Zion Baptist Church will jointly 
celebrate Dr. Simmons' 18th year as the Senior Pastor and the church's 
144th anniversary. I have known Pastor Simmons for many years and feel 
honored to call him my pastor, a friend, a teacher, and an inspiration. 
Likewise, I have been a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church for 13 
years and have found it to be a Christian fellowship of love in action 
through service to mankind.
  Dr. Simmons is a great many things to a great many people. Since I 
joined Mount Zion in 1996, I have come to know him as a man of 
character, an humanitarian, a bridge builder, a shepherd, and a leader. 
Above all, ``Pastor Simmons,'' as he is known, through his own humble 
and morally strong existence, helps us, as followers of the Word, to 
strive toward the Spiritual fulfillment graciously offered to us by our 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  As the Word says in Proverbs 3:5, ``Trust in the Lord with all your 
heart and lean not on your own understanding.'' Pastor Simmons has 
truly lived by this principle. Since his arrival at Mount Zion in 1991, 
he has sought to implement the church's mission to be a ``vibrant 
church that reaches the world for Christ through evangelism, 
discipleship, fellowship, and missions.''
  Under his leadership, the church has grown to 2,700 members and 
counting. Financial stewardship has increased substantially. In July of 
2008, the church broke ground on a new 67,000 square foot facility to 
provide the space necessary to continue building upon Pastor Simmons' 
vision and the church's mission. With all this growth and expansion, it 
is abundantly clear that God is doing great work at Mount Zion Baptist 
Church through the ministry of Pastor Simmons.
  With ordained leadership and divine grace, Pastor Simmons has built a 
church that delivers God's message and works daily to implement God's 
vision. Pastor Simmons personifies the love of God through his teaching 
and his way of life. I thank him for his years of service to his 
parishioners, the Albany community, Georgia's Second Congressional 
District, and the Nation. Moreover, I wish him many more fruitful years 
to come.
  I also recognize and celebrate the body of Christ which is the Mount 
Zion Baptist Church on the occasion of its 144th anniversary. May it 
forever utilize the blessings of great leadership and bountiful 
resources with which it has been provided to the Glory of Almighty God.

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