Floor SpeechNeutral2026-10-05

HONORING LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

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On 2026-10-05, Representative Cleo Fields (D-LA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH" in the House.

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HONORING LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1013-E1014] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH ______ HON. CLEO FIELDS of louisiana in the house of representatives Monday, October 5, 2026 Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Little Zion Baptist Church, a congregation that has stood for more than 130 years [[Page E1014]] and gives glory to God for its longevity. The original Little Zion Baptist Church was erected in the community of Brookstown in 1894 under the leadership of Rev. Wesley Smith, with a building committee that included the late Brother Thomas Haynes and the late Brother Whitney. In 1924, the Brookstown sanctuary was destroyed by fire, a loss that led to the purchase of a new site on Edwin Street under the leadership of the late Rev. Beverly White, Sr. The building committee for the new church consisted of the late Brother Joseph White, Brother Jim Austin, and Brother Sunny Wade. By 1951, as the membership continued to grow, the congregation recognized that a renovation of the church was essential, and a building committee was established to meet the needs of its members. That renovation was completed under the leadership of the late Rev. R.W. Ball, who was later led to relocate Little Zion to 74th Avenue in the Banks Community, where the church stands today. When Rev. Ball retired in 1963, Rev. Morris Jackson, Jr. was elected pastor the following year and went on to serve Little Zion for 44 years, guiding the congregation through four decades of change. Upon his retirement in 2008, his son, Marcus Jackson, was elected as Little Zion's fifth pastor, and he continues to serve today. Pastor Jackson has led Little Zion as a value-driven church that stands on the principles of faith, hope, and love, an approach that appreciates the assets each member brings to the church, the community, and the Kingdom. Over its many years of existence, Little Zion has survived many challenges, from the loss of its first sanctuary to fire to the changes of more than a century. As the congregation grows into the image of Christ, it continues to influence its church, its families, its communities, and the world, spreading the gospel throughout all nations. The spirit and wisdom of its past have well equipped Little Zion to carry on a great legacy, and the congregation gives thanks to God for the dedication and faithfulness of its pastors and members throughout the years. and for the fact that, in its own words, it is ``still standing.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Little Zion Baptist Church, Pastor Marcus Jackson, and the dedicated congregation for more than 130 years of faith, resilience, and service. May Little Zion continue to stand for generation to come. ____________________

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HONORING LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1013-E1014] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH ______ HON. CLEO FIELDS of louisiana in the house of representatives Monday, October 5, 2026 Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Little Zion Baptist Church, a congregation that has stood for more than 130 years [[Page E1014]] and gives glory to God for its longevity. The original Little Zion Baptist Church was erected in the community of Brookstown in 1894 under the leadership of Rev. Wesley Smith, with a building committee that included the late Brother Thomas Haynes and the late Brother Whitney. In 1924, the Brookstown sanctuary was destroyed by fire, a loss that led to the purchase of a new site on Edwin Street under the leadership of the late Rev. Beverly White, Sr. The building committee for the new church consisted of the late Brother Joseph White, Brother Jim Austin, and Brother Sunny Wade. By 1951, as the membership continued to grow, the congregation recognized that a renovation of the church was essential, and a building committee was established to meet the needs of its members. That renovation was completed under the leadership of the late Rev. R.W. Ball, who was later led to relocate Little Zion to 74th Avenue in the Banks Community, where the church stands today. When Rev. Ball retired in 1963, Rev. Morris Jackson, Jr. was elected pastor the following year and went on to serve Little Zion for 44 years, guiding the congregation through four decades of change. Upon his retirement in 2008, his son, Marcus Jackson, was elected as Little Zion's fifth pastor, and he continues to serve today. Pastor Jackson has led Little Zion as a value-driven church that stands on the principles of faith, hope, and love, an approach that appreciates the assets each member brings to the church, the community, and the Kingdom. Over its many years of existence, Little Zion has survived many challenges, from the loss of its first sanctuary to fire to the changes of more than a century. As the congregation grows into the image of Christ, it continues to influence its church, its families, its communities, and the world, spreading the gospel throughout all nations. The spirit and wisdom of its past have well equipped Little Zion to carry on a great legacy, and the congregation gives thanks to God for the dedication and faithfulness of its pastors and members throughout the years. and for the fact that, in its own words, it is ``still standing.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Little Zion Baptist Church, Pastor Marcus Jackson, and the dedicated congregation for more than 130 years of faith, resilience, and service. May Little Zion continue to stand for generation to come. ____________________