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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE LEGACY OF REVERED BISHOP MELVIN E. CLARK, SR.
______
HON. KAREN BASS
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, Bishop Clark born in Norfolk, VA, came to
Aliquippa in 1959 from Stanton, Va., where he was pastor of a Church of
God in Christ. He took over the then-First Church of God in Christ in
Aliquippa, PA and led the effort to build the landmark Church in the
Round, which was finished in 1970. Before the term Mega church was
coined, The Church in the Round boasted attendance and membership
exceeding 3,500.
Over the ensuing decades, Clark created groundbreaking community
outreach initiatives, Evangelistic Conferences, Pastoral Leadership
Symposiums, Holy Ghost Conferences, Church Planning and Church Planting
across the nation. His visionary interdisciplinary--community
development initiatives include: Multi-unit housing, Prison Reform /
Ministries, Financial Literacy Classes, Bethesda Home, a group home for
troubled boys, the Family Life Center, scholarship funds, food
initiatives, recreation programs, and medical- and health-awareness
endeavors and more.
The Very Reverend Bishop Clark spread the gospel to millions via his
widespread multi state radio ministry, ``Across the Pastor's Desk,''
which lasted three decades and drew people to his church, and to
Christ. The message: ``May I Present Jesus to YOU!!''
Bishop Melvin E. Clark, Sr., the founding visionary of the Family
Life Center, was appointed to the Pastorate of the First Church of God
in Christ, Inc. and subsequently its successor, the legendary Church in
the Round in 1960. He oversees a church legacy that spans 97-years,
making the enterprise one of the oldest institutions in the Beaver
County region. Bishop Clark's achievements as a pastor, and community
leader resulted in his consecration to the Bishopric and Jurisdictional
Prelate of the Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the national
Churches of God in Christ. His leadership abilities and deep concern
for people has brought him before many national and international
leaders including four U.S. Presidents. On several occasions he served
as an advisor to President Bill Clinton.
While serving as a delegate to the World Pentecostal Conference,
Bishop Clark visited Jerusalem and Switzerland, and at the request of
the President of Sierra Leone, West Africa, was called to preach during
a special celebration at the President's church. The Presiding Bishop
of the Church of God In Christ Worldwide also called upon Bishop Clark
to minister to congregants in South Korea.
He has ministered in Greece, the City of Corinth, London, England,
the Vatican, and Rome, Italy. He serves as an advisor, counselor, and
member of the Joint College of African-American Bishops and its
Pentecostal Congress where he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity
degree. Bishop Clark also holds two Master's Degrees and an earned
Doctorate of Philosophy.
He has received many awards including the Humanitarian Award of the
NAACP, of which he is a lifetime member, the Church of God in Christ
Presiding Bishop's Award, and the Man of the Year of the Greater
Aliquippa Chamber of Commerce for honorable and unselfish service.
Bishop Clark is honored to serve on the national Saints Center Board
and the National Task Force of the Church of God In Christ.
____________________