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[Pages S632-S633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO PASTOR DOUGLAS P. JONES
Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Pastor
Douglas P. Jones of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church of Pontiac, MI,
as the congregation and the Pontiac community celebrate his 30th
pastoral anniversary.
Pastor Jones moved from his native Cincinnati in 1989 to Pontiac, MI,
to assume leadership of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church. Under his
guidance, membership at Welcome Missionary Baptist Church grew from a
few hundred to more than 4,000 worshippers. From the very beginning of
his tenure at the church, Pastor Jones has worked tirelessly to
implement a vision of unity and kindness, bringing worshippers together
so that they may find strength in their community and, with that
strength, work toward positive change throughout the Pontiac area.
His focus on ensuring that church members' needs are met can be seen
in
[[Page S633]]
the number and diversity of ministries established at Welcome. In
support of his younger members, Pastor Jones created both the Young Men
Making a Difference Ministry for preteen and teenage boys, as well as
the Teen Esteem Ministry for preteen and teenage girls. Pastor Jones
has endeavored to create resources for the most vulnerable members of
the Welcome community such as the T.I.P.--Tots, Infants, and
Preschoolers--ministry, which looks after the congregation's youngest
members, the Exodus Dependency Program, which assists those contending
with problems relating to substance abuse and HIV, and the Domestic
Violence Ministry.
Pastor Jones has not limited his dedication to service to the members
of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church but, rather, extended his
unwavering faith and generosity to the broader Pontiac community. He
has been fundamental in the positive growth seen throughout the city
over the last 30 years. He has served on committees, boards, and
partnerships in support of the community, including the Pontiac Youth
Assistance, the NAACP North Oakland Medical Center, and the Woodward
Dream Cruise, Inc., to name only a few. Seeing a lack of unity among
those trying to create change, Pastor Jones founded the Greater Pontiac
Community Coalition, a federation of over 190 Oakland County
individuals, community groups, clergy, elected officials, and
businesses that work together to encourage positive change on the
individual, social, and institutional level through advocacy and
community action. Pastor Jones has further been a driving force behind
helping the students of Pontiac achieve their goals of pursuing higher
education. Under his guidance the Pontiac Promise Zone Scholarship
Program was created, which has given many Pontiac students the chance
to obtain the financial aid necessary to pursue their dreams of higher
education in the State of Michigan.
Since his arrival in 1989, Pastor Jones has been a source of strength
and good will for all those in the Pontiac community. He is often
called upon to act as a consensus builder among groups and people of
different perspectives, preaching partnership and cooperation in order
to inspire success and transformation. He has worked tirelessly in
pursuit of what he thinks is best for the community and has done so
while spreading a message of morality and kindness.
I have no doubt that the congregation at Welcome Missionary Baptist
Church is proud to call Pastor Jones their leader and celebrate his
many accomplishments over the last 30 years. I am grateful to Pastor
Jones for his friendship and for his selflessness in serving the
residents of Pontiac and surrounding area. I wish Pastor Jones, First
Lady JoAnn, and their family continued happiness and success as they
continue to work for the betterment of the community.
____________________
