[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9831]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 THE OCCASION OF THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF REVEREND DOCTOR STEVE BLAND 
  JR. AS PASTOR OF LIBERTY TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2014

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend 
Dr. Steve Bland Jr. on the occasion of his Tenth Anniversary as the 
Senior Pastor of the congregation of Liberty Temple Baptist Church in 
Detroit, MI.
  As the son of the late Reverend Steve Bland Sr., who was pastor to 
Bethesda Baptist Church, Dr. Bland grew up immersed in the teachings of 
Christ. It is hardly surprising that, like his father, Dr. Bland would 
heed the call and desire to serve his community. Dr. Bland entered the 
ministry full-time after working at a Kansas City accounting firm in 
the early 1980's. He is also the former Minister of Music, Youth Pastor 
and Assistant Pastor to the late Rev. Dr. Mac Charles Jones at the St. 
Stephen Baptist Church of Kansas City, MO. After faithfully serving for 
over 14 years in Rockford, Illinois as Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist 
Church, Dr. Bland was called to serve the congregation at Liberty 
Temple Baptist Church.
  Under his leadership, the congregation at Liberty Temple has 
flourished with an increase of well over 900 members in a brief time. 
During his 10 years as Senior Pastor, Dr. Bland has brought a great 
sense of spiritual revitalization and excitement to Liberty Temple 
Baptist Church and the city of Detroit. Dr. Bland is a dynamic leader 
who offers a vibrant worship experience, inspirational teaching, and 
uplifting preaching, while meeting the holistic needs of the church, 
his family, and surrounding community.
  As a Miles Jones Fellow and doctoral graduate of the Samuel Proctor 
School of Theology at Virginia Union University, Dr. Bland's intellect 
and achievements have been sought out, leading to appointments on 
several boards and leadership positions in the BM&E State Convention, 
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Michigan District Baptist 
Association, the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity, the 
Ministers Council of the Michigan Progressive National Baptist 
Convention, Inc. of Detroit, Michigan and the Progressive National 
Baptist Convention.
  In every way possible, Dr. Bland finds avenues through which he can 
further God's kingdom and genuinely pursues them. Dr. Bland's grand 
efforts have been strengthened by his wife, Phyllis, and his three 
children, Steven, Brandon, and Sydnie.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the 
profound impact that Reverend Dr. Steve Bland Jr. has made on the 
congregation of Liberty Temple Baptist Church as its pastor for the 
last ten years and the larger impact he has made on the communities 
around him. I wish Dr. Bland, his family, and the congregants of 
Liberty Temple many more blessed years of spiritual fellowship.

                          ____________________