HONORING ST. MARY BAPTIST CHURCH

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

HONORING ST. MARY 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 E1057-E1058] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ST. MARY 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 St. Mary Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana, an enduring institution of Christian faith, worship, fellowship, education, and community service for more than 125 years. Organized on July 30, 1899, the church grew from the faith and determination of a small group of believers who wanted a permanent congregation where individuals and families could worship together, grow spiritually, and serve their community. St. Mary was organized through the efforts of Reverend R. Lowe, J.W. Wells, John Kennedy, Sister Tena Ferguson, Sister Betsy Williams, and Sister Erna Ferguson. Their vision came in the closing years of the nineteenth century, when churches played an especially important role in the religious, educational, social, and community life of African Americans throughout the South. Before there was a sanctuary, the earliest members gathered for prayer meetings in one another's homes, showing that the strength of the congregation lay not in a building but in the shared faith and commitment of its people. As participation grew, the congregation established a ``brush harbor'' for worship, a simple and often temporary structure that gave believers a place to gather before a permanent church could be built. The congregation later moved into a frame building, and continued growth ultimately led to the present church structure. From private homes, to the brush harbor, to a frame church, and finally to a permanent sanctuary, each stage reflects the sacrifice and accomplishment of successive generations of members. Throughout its history, St. Mary has made worship the foundation of congregational life, offering preaching, prayer, music, biblical teaching, and Christian fellowship. Through Sunday school, Bible teaching, and ministry activities, the church has equipped members to understand Scripture and has passed its faith, history, and traditions from one generation to the next. For many families, St. Mary has been far more than a place attended on Sunday mornings. It has been a spiritual home where generations have celebrated baptisms, marriages, anniversaries, and educational achievements, and where members have found comfort, prayer, and fellowship in times of illness, grief, and hardship. The church's longevity is closely tied to its pastoral leadership. One of the most significant chapters began in 1967 with Reverend Richard Hardy Jr., who served for 47 years and provided spiritual guidance to multiple generations of members as the congregation and community experienced profound social, cultural, and economic change. In 2014, Reverend Hardy retired and was recognized as Pastor Emeritus. In December 2015, Reverend Melvin R. Bates, Sr. was called as Senior Pastor, becoming the tenth pastor of St. Mary Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the church continues to emphasize spiritual growth, discipleship, worship, education, fellowship, and service while reaching individuals and families in a changing community. Today, St. Mary's ministries serve people at every stage of life, including ministries for youth, men, women, music, education, transportation, and community fellowship. The youth ministry helps prepare a new generation to carry forward the church's faith and traditions, while the transportation ministry shows how practical service can remove barriers to participation in worship. Through fellowship and outreach, the church builds relationships, strengthens families, and contributes positively to the broader Shreveport community. Its stated goal of ``knowing Jesus and making Him known'' summarizes a mission of personal spiritual growth and of carrying the faith into the community through service, compassion, and outreach. St. Mary's endurance is a tribute to the generations of pastors, ministers, deacons, trustees, officers, teachers, musicians, ministry leaders, volunteers, families, and members who have sustained it. The congregation has ministered through the turn of the twentieth [[Page E1058]] century, two world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights era, and major transformations in Shreveport, and in every era it has remained a place for worship, prayer, education, fellowship, and service. What began with prayer meetings among a small group of believers has become an enduring congregation that has served generations of families throughout the city. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring St. Mary Baptist Church and its congregation for more than 125 years of faith, perseverance, and service to the people of Shreveport. May St. Mary continue its mission of knowing Jesus and making Him known for generations to come. ____________________