[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING GREATER MOUNT ZION AME CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2017

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize 
the 108th Anniversary of Greater Mount Zion AME Church in Dania Beach, 
Florida.
  First organized in 1909, Greater Mount Zion has a rich and 
inspirational history.
  Not long after establishing its home in 1923, the church was 
demolished by a hurricane three short years later, leaving only a bible 
and the pulpit standing.
  Church members worked faithfully and were determined to rebuild, even 
if only in spirit and worship, and under the stewardship of several 
pastoral leaders, the Greater Mount Zion family always pressed forward 
together.
  Throughout the 1940s and 1950s Greater Mount Zion flourished as a 
spiritual beacon for Dania Beach residents and in the 1960s, a building 
fund was started with just five hundred dollars. This fund would 
increase over time and help the church continue to expand and grow 
until a permanent church home was built.
  The resilience and determination of Greater Mount Zion is testament 
to the character and steadfast faith of leadership and parishioners 
alike.
  They never allowed temporary setbacks to hold them down. With their 
unshakeable faith and hard work, members gained new strength with each 
year and in 1986, with the groundbreaking of a beautiful new church, 
they witnessed a dream become a reality.
  Today, under the leadership of Reverend Paul R. Wiggins, Greater 
Mount Zion has elevated its congregation with an enthusiastic spirit to 
meet the needs of all its members, from the elders who persevered to 
keep the congregation alive, to the new generation who follow in the 
footsteps of their ancestors.
  It is with great admiration that I commend the visionary leadership 
of Greater Mount Zion AME Church and offer my heartfelt appreciation to 
the members for keeping the hopes and dreams of its founders alive for 
a century.
  Thank you for being a blessing and bright light for so many in 
Broward County and congratulations on one hundred and luminous years. 
May you celebrate and serve the needs and spirits of many for years to 
come.

                          ____________________