HONORING MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH

On 2026-10-13, Representative Cleo Fields (D-LA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH" in the House.

HONORING MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 160 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1072] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH ______ HON. CLEO FIELDS of louisiana in the house of representatives Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Mansfield, Louisiana, a valued congregation and community institution located at 329 Porter Street. Under the leadership of Pastor Williams and the dedicated service of its members, Mount Calvary Baptist Church continues to provide worship, fellowship, and ministry to the people of Mansfield and DeSoto Parish. The historical roots of the original Mount Calvary Baptist Church are connected to the early-twentieth-century movement to establish African American Baptist congregations in communities where such spaces were needed. Across generations, the church has developed as a multigenerational and multicultural beacon, welcoming people from many walks of life and seeking to strengthen the bonds of faith and community. The name ``Mount Calvary'' honors Calvary, or Golgotha, the biblical hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified. This name reflects the church's emphasis on the sacrifice, salvation, grace, and redemption that form the foundation of its Christian faith. Mount Calvary Baptist Church has also demonstrated faithful stewardship through its commitment to improving its facilities. During a period of leadership transition, including major improvements advanced under Pastor Williams, the congregation undertook Phase I renovations focused on the lobby and main sanctuary. These efforts included hand-cleaning the historic interior brick walls, updating the structural paint, and installing a new pulpit. The congregation completed the $87,000 Phase I renovation project entirely debt-free, reflecting careful planning, shared commitment, and responsible financial stewardship. This accomplishment stands as a testament to the generosity and dedication of Mount Calvary Baptist Church's members and supporters. Mount Calvary Baptist Church is grounded in fundamental, Bible-based Baptist doctrines. The church affirms one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaches that salvation is the free gift of divine grace received through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from human works. The church recognizes the Old and New Testaments as the inspired and infallible Word of God and observes the two ordinances of the Christian faith: believers' baptism by full immersion and the Lord's Supper. It also affirms the local church as an autonomous body of baptized believers called to carry out the Great Commission. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Pastor Williams and the faithful congregation of Mount Calvary Baptist Church for their enduring commitment to worship, stewardship, ministry, and community fellowship. May Mount Calvary Baptist Church continue to serve as a place of faith, welcome, and hope for the people of Mansfield and for generations to come. ____________________