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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5205-H5206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                  TRIBUTE TO REVEREND JAMES LIGHTFOOT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me today to rise to 
pay tribute to the late James Lightfoot, pastor of the Mount Zion 
Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, who lost his life just a 
few days ago.
  I am delighted I had the opportunity to visit Pastor Lightfoot and 
his church on their 44th anniversary. It was an exciting time, and he 
looked forward to the celebrating of the 44th year of his pastoral 
leadership of that church, as he started in 1968. I am gratified to 
salute this distinguished gentleman and distinguished American. He used 
faith in a way of service not only to his parishioners and to those 
whom he lead as a shepherd, but to those outside those bricks and 
mortar.
  He concentrated on philosophy and ministry. That was his 
concentration at Southwestern Seminary. He completed a master's in 
education at Texas Southern University. He holds a Master of Divinity 
from Houston Graduate School of Theology, and a Doctorate of Ministries 
from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. At Houston Graduate 
and Austin Presbyterian the emphasis was on the philosophical 
implications of ministry as it affected the culture of today. He has 
done advanced training at Texas Southern University and Houston 
Graduate School of Theology in counseling. He did an internship at 
Bellaire Columbia General in their Rapha Unit.
  He served as a lecturer in church administration in the Central 
Baptist Convention and teaches pastoral ministry. He was a conferee to 
the Transitional Church--Church Conference/Southern Baptist Convention. 
And as well, he was honored to serve as third vice president to the 
Independent General District Sunday School and BTU.
  He was a gentleman that uses faith to be of service. He deals with 
the philosophical implications of peace and justice, issues for today's 
church. How important that is when so many people are hurting. In the 
backdrop of the tragedy of Aurora, it is imperative that our faith 
leaders are engaged in our community and pray for their deliverance.
  I am delighted to say that he also worked with young people. He was a 
kind spirit. He was a charitable spirit. He was a professor at 
LeTourneau University--that's how much he cared for young people--where 
he taught Bible and Family. He was likewise an adjunct professor. He 
served on the mayor's affirmative action committee. He served as the 
chairperson of a Black Ministries Committee of the Union Baptist 
Association. As well, he has served in many civic and community 
affairs. As I indicated, he always had a summer program for young 
people who needed a place to come. He always had a smile on his face. 
He was always joyful. And, of course, he was a wonderful husband to his 
wonderful and devoted wife.

[[Page H5206]]

  He had the privilege of speaking to over 20,000 persons in January of 
1992, where he spoke to the Baptist General Convention of Texas--
Evangelism Division, to an attendance of over 20,000 persons. And in 
January of 1992, he was guest preacher for the Mississippi Baptist 
State Evangelism Conference and delivered the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Day sermon at the Austin Presbyterian Seminary, his alma mater.
  What I would like to say most of all is that, beyond the accolades 
that he got on the outside, he was an outstanding human being, an 
outstanding minister, an outstanding civic leader, someone who 
continued to serve his community even during his time of illness. You 
never noted a lack of cheerfulness in Reverend Lightfoot. And in the 
early stages of his illness, I had the opportunity to visit him at 
home. And again, what a cheerful, believing person who loved America 
and served America in his capacity, and that was as a faith leader who 
believed in all persons, reached beyond his doors, helped build a 
beautiful new sanctuary on that same street, Homestead, did not move, 
continued to serve the community, and was known as a light to all.
  My sympathies to Velma Mitchell Lightfoot, his wife, and his 
beautiful children and his eight grandchildren, and being a great-
grandfather as well. The diversity of his training has led him to be 
that light, that servant, that special person. I believe it is 
appropriate to pay tribute to James Lightfoot who remains, even in 
death, a light to us all because of the great history and the great 
legacy he has left.
  May God bless him, God bless his service, and I know that he would 
want me to say that God bless his most wonderful and most great Nation, 
the United States of America.
  Pastor Lightfoot, may you rest in peace.

                          ____________________
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