[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10493-10494]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                25TH ANNIVERSARY OF AN OPEN DOOR CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2011

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I stand 
before you today to congratulate An Open Door Church on its 25th 
anniversary. In honor of this momentous milestone, a celebratory 
reception will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at An Open Door 
Church in Hammond, Indiana. For 25 years, An Open Door Church has been 
committed to the spiritual and social conditions of residents living in 
the Hammond area as well as in the greater Northwest Indiana community.
  Founded on July 6, 1986 in South Holland, Illinois, by Doctors and 
Pastors Meredith and Marilyn Shackelford, An Open Door Church began as 
a small congregation in the basement of the pastors' home. Quickly 
outgrowing this small space, the church began to rent space, and, after 
eight years, it was able to purchase its first building in Hammond. The 
church's congregation continued to grow and the church moved to its 
current location on Hohman Avenue in Hammond, Indiana six years ago. 
Currently, the church has an impressive membership of more than 350 
congregants.
  The church and its parishioners follow a visionary motto, ``reaching 
people to reach the world,'' which is carried out through the church's 
various ministries and programs that work to support change in the 
lives of others. An Open Door Church places a strong emphasis on the 
family unit, and has built its organization around the belief that 
strong families build strong communities. The church's dedication to 
the welfare of residents in Northwest

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Indiana is demonstrated through its many outreach projects which 
include: a summer concert series at Harrison Park where school supplies 
are distributed to children in need; Wee Care, a child development 
ministry; a food pantry ministry that feeds over 75 families per month; 
Give God a Chance, a marriage ministry; a prison outreach ministry; 
various children and teen ministries; and the Christian Academy, which 
provides education for grades kindergarten through grade eight. In 
addition, the church has partnered with numerous community 
organizations in order to improve the quality of life for countless 
individuals. These organizations include Calumet Project, Interfaith 
Worker Justice, and Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance. An Open 
Door Church, its founders, and its ministry directors show 
uncompromising loyalty to the community of Northwest Indiana and they 
are worthy of the highest praise.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time, I ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in honoring An Open Door Church for its exceptional 
community service ministry and to congratulate the organization on its 
25th anniversary. The founders and congregation of this truly admirable 
organization continue to touch the lives of numerous people, and for 
this selfless, lifelong service they are to be commended.

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