HONORING CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

On 2026-10-09, Representative Cleo Fields (D-LA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH" in the House.

HONORING CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 159 (Friday, October 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 159 (Friday, October 9, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1053-E1054] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ______ HON. CLEO FIELDS of louisiana in the house of representatives Friday, October 9, 2026 Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana, which was established on February 22, 1948. For nearly 80 years, Calvary has been a ministry dedicated to faith, worship, and service, and a steady source of spiritual guidance and fellowship for the people of Shreveport. Its story is woven into the story of the city's faith community, and it stands as a reminder of what a congregation can mean to the place it calls home. Over the decades, Calvary has served generations of residents and maintained a strong presence in the surrounding community. For many families, the church has been the place where faith was taught, where milestones were celebrated, and where neighbors gathered for worship and fellowship. That continuity has made Calvary more than a building on a street. It has been a spiritual home that has helped hold the community together across changing times. Calvary has also played an important role in the life of Shreveport through worship, prayer, outreach, and efforts to support residents in times of need. Its ministry reflects a commitment to strengthening families, encouraging faith, and addressing the needs of the broader Shreveport community. A church that serves in this way meets people where they are and shows, through service, that faith is meant to be lived out in the community as well as in the sanctuary. Public records document the church's long history of community engagement, including its annual citywide Prayer Vigil. The vigil brought together church members and community leaders to pray for educators, elected officials, law enforcement, and the nation. By lifting up the people who teach our children, serve in public office, and keep our communities safe, Calvary used its voice to unite the [[Page E1054]] faith community of Shreveport and showed that a church's prayers can reach well beyond its own walls. The church is associated with Dr. Joe Rascoe Gant, Jr., who served as its pastor for more than four decades and was recognized by the City of Shreveport for his service to the church and community. Pastoral leadership sustained over so many years gives a congregation continuity and direction. It is a mark of the faithfulness and commitment to service that have defined Calvary's ministry and its place among the churches of Shreveport. ____________________