[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15759-15760]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


  IN HONOR OF THE HERITAGE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH ON THEIR 37TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2015

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Heritage 
Fellowship Church of Reston, Virginia. Heritage Fellowship Church, 
initially named Christian Community Fellowship, began in 1978 as the 
town of Reston's first African-American church. In the church's

[[Page 15760]]

early stages, it moved around, having its services in different high 
schools. Howard University's School of Divinity and the Washington DC 
Community of Faith provided pastors to lead the church and the church's 
first pastoral advisor was Dr. Harold Hunt of Howard Divinity School, 
who served from May of 1978 to January of 1979. Dr. Earnest W. 
Armstrong, Sr. was next to give pastoral leadership to Heritage 
Fellowship Church, serving from January of 1979 to March of that same 
year. Over the years, Heritage Fellowship Church has had many 
distinguished advisors from the religious community, attesting to its 
deep community ties. In 1995, on the first Sunday in November, Reverend 
Dr. Norman A. Tate began his 20 year tenure at Heritage Fellowship 
Church as an Interim Pastor. Three dedicated years later he rose to the 
office of Senior Pastor. In June of 2012, a 73,000 square foot building 
was finished, the result of a years-long capital campaign. This 
building houses a youth center, staff offices and many other rooms that 
benefit the entire community. This year, on Saturday, October 10th, 
they will celebrate two significant events. The first is the 37th 
anniversary of Heritage Fellowship Church and the second is the 20th 
anniversary of Reverend Dr. Tate's leadership at Heritage Fellowship 
Church. Heritage Fellowship Church and Reverend Dr. Tate have both made 
a great impact on our community, and for that, we are all grateful.

                          ____________________