[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14172]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF UNIONVILLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH'S 151ST 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2016

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation and leadership of 
Unionville Missionary Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia as the church 
celebrates a remarkable 151 years. The congregation of Unionville 
Missionary Baptist Church celebrated this very significant anniversary 
on Sunday, October 16, 2016.
  Tracing its roots back to the Civil War era, Unionville Missionary 
Baptist Church was founded in 1865. Prior to that time, black and white 
people of the Baptist and Methodist faiths worshipped together. When 
the white believers decided they no longer wanted to worship with the 
black believers, the black believers were left without a place to 
worship.
  Later in 1865, Mr. Wyler, a wealthy landowner, decided to donate land 
for a black church to be established. He stipulated that the first 
black Baptist or Methodist to place timber on the land and sit on it 
all night would be awarded the deed to the land. Thus, two enterprising 
black Baptists, Lee Buckman and John Josey, retrieved the timber from 
their bed, placed it on the property, and remained there until morning 
to await Mr. Wyler's arrival. Upon seeing this, Mr. Wyler donated and 
deeded land at 1610 Pio Nono Avenue to establish the Unionville 
Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Pollack served as the first pastor 
of the newly formed church.
  Today, the church is under the leadership of Pastor I. Edwin Mack. 
Having answered the call to lead the church in 1986, Pastor Mack holds 
the distinction of being the longest tenured pastor in the church's 
existence. During his tenure, the church membership has increased 
exponentially and as a result, the Unionville Missionary Baptist Church 
relocated to a new site at 3837 Houston Avenue. The church then 
expanded even further with the addition of the I. Edwin Mack Worship & 
Fellowship Center at 3820 Houston Avenue.
  A charismatic evangelical innovator, Pastor Mack's spiritual zeal is 
both infectious and highly contagious. He has previously served as 
President of the Sixth District of the General Missionary Baptist 
Convention of Georgia. A native of Cochran, Georgia, he is married to 
the former Eloise Cliett of Byron, Georgia and has a daughter, 
Brittany.
  The story of Unionville Missionary Baptist Church, which began as a 
small group of people worshipping together 151 years ago and has grown 
into an expansive and successful church, is truly an inspiring one of 
the dedication and perseverance of a faithful congregation of people 
who put all their love and trust in the Lord.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
Unionville Missionary Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia for their long 
history of coming together through the good and difficult times to 
praise and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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