[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11577]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE ELM SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH

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                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2010

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate 
the Elm Spring Baptist Church of Holden, Missouri, on the occasion of 
its 150th anniversary.
  The Elm Spring Baptist Church has undergone many changes since the 
church's first pastor, George Minton, led the 15 founding members in 
worship for the first time in July of 1860. Pastor Minton led the 
congregation until the Civil War disrupted their worship services for 
six years. After this brief disruption, the church resumed services and 
constructed the first building on land graciously donated by the 
Jonathan Newman family. As the congregation has grown, so too has the 
church's campus; today, the original building is joined by an 
educational building, a baptistery, and a parsonage. The newest 
structure is a Fellowship Hall built in 2000.
  In recent years, members of the church have focused on serving 
communities across the United States and the world. To this end, the 
congregation has led mission trips to Pittsburgh, Orlando, Greenville, 
and Palissa, Uganda. For 150 years, the Elm Spring Baptist Church has 
been ``Growing the Family of God,'' and they show no sign of stopping.
  Madam Speaker, I trust my fellow Members of the House will join me in 
congratulating the Elm Spring Baptist Church on the occasion of its 
150th anniversary and in wishing its members the best of luck in all 
future endeavors.

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