HONORING FIRST EMMANUEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

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

HONORING FIRST EMMANUEL MISSIONARY 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 E1021-E1022] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING FIRST EMMANUEL MISSIONARY 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 First Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a congregation that has been a steady and trusted presence in the community for more than a century and a vital part of the faith community of Baton Rouge. The church began in the early 1900s as St. Paul Missionary Church, originally located on Highland Road in Baton Rouge. In 1931, Pastor Adam H. Landry became the church's leader and relocated the congregation to Education Street. During this period, Sister Ida Landry gave the church its present name, First Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church. Construction of the church building began in 1934 and was completed in 1937, and the church's members played a major role in the work, using their skills as carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, and cement finishers to build their own house of worship. That a congregation would pour its own labor and talent into building a church, in the midst of the hardships of the 1930s, speaks to the depth of its faith and the strength of the bonds among its members, and it set a pattern of shared commitment that has defined the church ever since. The congregation continued to grow, and under the leadership of Pastor George Rogers Clark, the church acquired additional property, achieved financial stability, and retired its mortgage in 1969. That achievement reflects a congregation that has been a faithful steward of its resources and has invested in its future so that it could keep serving the community for generations. In 2004, the church undertook additional renovations to improve and preserve its facilities, ensuring that its doors remain open as a place of worship, fellowship, and gathering for the people it serves. In 1996, Pastor Henry J. Brown became the church's fourth pastor, and he continues to lead the congregation today. For many families in Baton Rouge, First Emmanuel has been a spiritual home across generations, a place where members come together in worship, find fellowship in times of joy and sorrow, and are reminded that faith is lived out in service to one another. Churches like First Emmanuel are among the most enduring institutions in our neighborhoods, anchoring communities through changing times and offering stability, encouragement, and a sense of belonging to those who walk through their doors. The impact of First Emmanuel extends beyond its own membership. As one of the longstanding congregations of Baton Rouge, it contributes to the strength of the broader faith community, standing alongside other churches in the shared work of nurturing faith, supporting families, and building a community grounded in values of compassion and service. Its example, of members who built their church with their own hands and then sustained it faithfully for decades, continues to inspire the many who worship there and those who look to it as a model of what a committed congregation can accomplish. [[Page E1022]] Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating First Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Henry J. Brown, and the dedicated congregation for more than a century of faithful worship, fellowship, and service to the Baton Rouge community. May First Emmanuel continue to be a source of strength and a light of faith in Baton Rouge for generations to come. ____________________