[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15560-15561]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING REVEREND CHARLES EMERY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and admiration 
that I stand before you today to congratulate Reverend Charles Emery on 
his 34th anniversary as Pastor of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in 
Gary, Indiana. For his many years of dedicated service to the church 
and the surrounding community, he was honored at a celebratory banquet 
on Monday, October 15, 2012 at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary, 
Indiana.
  Reverend Charles Emery was born in Madison County, Tennessee to W.A. 
and Macie Emery. Pastor Emery attended religious services throughout 
his childhood and accepted Christ into his life at the very young age 
of nine. While attending college in Tennessee, Pastor Emery chose to 
enlist in the United States Air Force. Throughout his military service, 
Pastor Emery felt he was being called into the ministry. Reverend Emery 
decided to pursue religious studies and was the first of his family to 
graduate from college. He earned a

[[Page 15561]]

Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Education from Toledo Bible School 
in Ohio and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity Theological Seminary 
in Newburg, Indiana. He has also taken specialized courses in church 
administration, youth evangelism, and personal counseling at Moody 
Bible College of Chicago, Illinois. In 1968, Pastor Emery married his 
adoring wife, Willie Ruth Bonds, and they have four beloved children: 
Mary, Bernard, Victoria, and Kim.
  In 1978, Reverend Emery became Pastor of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist 
Church. Throughout the years, Pastor Emery has worked diligently to 
serve the members of the congregation, the community of Gary, and all 
of Northwest Indiana. Reverend Emery has served as President of the 
Baptist Ministers Conference of Gary and Vicinity, Vice President-at-
Large for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Indiana, 
Incorporated, teacher of the National Baptist Congress of Christian 
Education Youth Division, President of the Gary Police Chaplain 
Association, and Secretary of the Gary/Chicago Airport Board. 
Currently, Reverend Emery serves as President of the General Missionary 
Baptist Convention of Indiana, Incorporated. He continues to work hard 
for people most in need and does not hesitate to get involved in the 
tough struggles that face the surrounding community. For his constant 
and passionate devotion to public service, Reverend Emery is worthy of 
the highest praise.
  Mr. Speaker, Reverend Charles Emery is a man of God and a man 
concerned with creating a just society for his congregation, his 
community, and our nation. He has selflessly devoted his life to the 
service of others and it is an honor to consider Pastor Emery a friend. 
For his uncompromising dedication over the past 34 years, Reverend 
Emery is truly an inspiration to us all, and it is right to honor him 
today.

                          ____________________