[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 12016]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    COMMEMORATING THE 240TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACKWATER BAPTIST CHURCH

  (Mr. RIGELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RIGELL. Madam Speaker, last month, my wife, Teri, and I had the 
pleasure of attending a joint church service which brought together 
Blackwater Baptist Church and New Oak Grove Baptist Church. That 
occurred in Virginia's Second Congressional District, which I have the 
privilege to serve.
  The two churches were celebrating the 240th anniversary of Blackwater 
Baptist, and what a service and celebration it was.
  What was particularly enjoyable and noteworthy is that one has a 
largely White congregation, the other a largely African American 
congregation, and that is relevant, and, indeed, it is central to my 
point because Blackwater Baptist Church, which stood at the American 
Civil War, once had a slave balcony in its sanctuary.
  Now, the pastors of the two churches, Greg Hammer and Tyrone Johnson, 
they are remarkable men. They bring their two congregations together 
once a year for a joint church service. They are close friends, and 
they talk often about their Christian faith, which binds them together.
  They also have the courage to talk about race, to celebrate the 
progress that we have made, and to take on responsibly the challenges 
that remain in our country.
  Madam Speaker, this is what we need more of in America, and I commend 
them both and their congregations.

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