Recognizing Dr. Freddie Louis Thomas, Sr.

Floor Speech

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Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Freddie Louis Thomas, Sr. for his 50 years of service to the Central Valley community as the Senior Pastor of Jerusalem Mission Community Church of God in Christ.

Dr. Thomas, Sr. was born in 1934 in Marshall, Texas. As a child, he and his family relocated to California and settled in Los Angeles. In 1953, his family moved to Bakersfield, California. He went on to be a fixture in the Central Valley ever since. After. graduating from Bakersfield High School, Dr. Thomas, Sr. attended Bakersfield College while working towards his license as a building contractor.

After working years in building construction and contracting, Dr. Thomas, Sr. felt a calling from a higher power and made the admirable decision to dedicate his life to Christ. He went on to attend multiple seminary schools, eventually achieving a doctorate in divinity. Dr. Thomas, Sr. has used his knowledge to become a leader in the Central Valley religious community--spreading the word of God through his teachings to multiple congregations.

In 1963, Dr. Thomas, Sr. founded the Jerusalem Mission Community Church of God in Christ. He has served as the church's senior pastor since its founding and has become a true source of inspiration for Valley families for decades. In 2021, he became the Emeritus Pastor of the Church.

I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Dr. Freddie Louis Thomas, Sr. for his 50 years of service to the Central Valley community.

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