[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING FIRST UNION BAPTIST CHURCH

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2011

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, the month of October marks the 50th 
anniversary of First Union Baptist Church's Christian service in my 
hometown of Flint, Michigan, which they are commemorating with a 
celebration: ``Honoring our Past, Fulfilling the Present, Preparing for 
the Future.''
  Under the faithful stewardship of Rev. Archie Powell, Sr., Union 
Baptist opened its doors in a storefront on North Street. At this 
location, Pastor Archie Powell, Sr., Deacon David Sawyer, Mother 
Tennesee Sawyer, Mother Loread Perry, Mother Lela Lee, Sister Gertha 
McGhee, and Sister Mary Ann Sawyer Jones met for the first time.
  After 25 years of steadfast leadership, Rev. Archie Powell, Sr. was 
called to rest on November 2, 1986. In the following months, the Rev. 
Archie Powell, Jr. was installed by Rev. Grandville Smith of Mt. 
Calvary Baptist Church Flint, Michigan. Like his father, Rev. Archie 
Powell, Jr. is a dedicated servant to the Lord and recently celebrated 
24 years of pastoral care to the congregation of First Union Baptist 
Church.
  In 1996, the First Union congregation had grown too big for the 
building it occupied at the time and decided to break ground on a new 
place of worship with room for 450 people at 7004 Fleming Rd., Flint, 
Michigan. The congregation moved in on April 20, 1997. Under the 
careful stewardship of Rev. Archie Powell, Jr. the congregation was 
able to pay off the mortgage in December of 2010.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating First Union Baptist 
Church on their success and dedication to the Flint community. I pray 
that the ministers, staff, and congregation of First Union will 
continue their work and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ for many, 
many years to come.

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