[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1126]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW J. WATTS

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I wish to honor Pastor Matthew 
Watts, a dear friend and a truly inspiring West Virginian whose 
ministry career spans more than three decades.
  I have personally known Reverend Watts for many years now, and he 
truly embodies what it means to be a great West Virginian. He is a man 
of deep conviction and unwavering passion for justice. He is an 
uplifting force to many and a role model to many more.
  I have known Pastor Watts for many years, and as the former Governor, 
the reverend would visit often and bring me his thoughts, suggestions, 
and ideas. I always appreciated his sincere candor and genuine interest 
in improving our state.
  As a native of Mount Hope, located in beautiful Fayette County, 
Pastor Watts currently serves as senior pastor of the Grace Bible 
Church of Charleston. He is a graduate of the West Virginia Institute 
of Technology with a bachelor of science in civil engineering, which 
led to a 20-year career with the Union Carbide Corporation. His 
theological study and training from the Moody Bible Institute of 
Chicago and the Christian Research and Development Center in 
Philadelphia, combined with his years of experience in corporate 
America, have blessed him with a vitally unique perspective on economic 
development.
  In December of 1996, he left Union Carbide to pursue his ministry and 
focus on community service projects. A year later, he established the 
HOPE Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization with 
the mission of empowering inner-city communities through spiritual 
renewal, education, employment training and economic development.
  With this perspective, he developed Kingdom Management Consultants, 
which assists minority owned businesses with startup and expansion, as 
well as provides supportive strategies to those seeking employment.
  His active community involvement has truly set the standard in West 
Virginia throughout the years. Much of his community service is still 
done through the HOPE Community Development Corporation, which now has 
a branch specifically for youth.
  Reverend Watts always amazes me with his unique ability to relate to 
strangers. While he is strong in stature and his voice is so 
commanding, his approach is dynamic, sincere, and composed.
  His years of unwavering service and leadership have certainly not 
gone unrecognized. In 1996, he received the West Virginia Small 
Business Administration's Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. In 
2002, Pastor Watts was awarded the Washington Times Foundation 
Leadership Award for Faith Based Organization of the Year. He was also 
the 2004 recipient of the Crown of Peace Award for Exemplary Leadership 
in Reconciliation and Peacemaking from the Inter-religious and 
International Peace Council.
  Pastor Watts is a strong leader, mentor, and friend to so many within 
West Virginia. It takes a truly remarkable individual to accomplish so 
much in community service. Particularly now, having just celebrated Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and as we near Black History Month, it is 
fitting that we should celebrate such an inspiring individual as Pastor 
Watts. His community service programs have empowered countless minority 
groups within our State and are sure to continue the tradition of 
excellence for many years to come.

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