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October 6, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. CLEO FIELDS
of louisiana
in the house of representatives
Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor True Vine Baptist Church of Alexandria, Louisiana, a congregation whose origins date back to August 1900 and whose long history of service has made it a cornerstone of the Alexandria faith community. After fervent prayer meetings in the old Peabody School frame building, a dedicated group of believers sought the guidance of Dr. C.L. Roberts of Cheneyville, who organized True Vine that same year. The church later moved to Duck Alley, where members constructed a small frame building for services. When Dr. Roberts was unable to continue leading because of the hardships of travel, he advised the members to seek a new pastor, and records reflect early pastoral leadership from Rev. Solomon Washington and Rev. Cephus Hayes.
In 1910, Rev. John S. Smith became pastor of approximately 20 members, and under his leadership True Vine nourished. He organized numerous auxiliaries, including the Sunday School, Women's Home Mission Society, Junior Mission, Y.W.A., Girl's Auxiliary, Sunshine Band, B.Y.P.U., and Royal Ambassadors, expanded the church facility, and purchased additional property on Carr Street. Membership grew from 20 to 854 before his passing on March 15, 1940. On August 12, 1940, Rev. J.H. Hayes was elected pastor and led significant improvements, including adding a balcony, installing fans, building a library, and constructing an educational building. During his tenure, the church purchased three lots for a new site on Broadway Avenue, where a church was completed in 1954. Rev. Hayes passed away on October 26, 1960.
Rev. Howard L. Williams was selected as pastor on January 18, 1961. His administration oversaw extensive renovations, including the annexation of buildings, new offices and rooms, paneling, tile flooring, telephones, and expanded facilities such as Hayes Dining Hall. He also organized the Truevineer Choir, the Young Adult Choir, and the Matrons. Rev. Williams served faithfully until his passing in
1977, leaving a membership of 972. Rev. Frank B. Whorton followed beginning in 1978, and Rev. Solomon Shorter, Sr., was installed on May 14, 1982.
Under Rev. Shorter's dynamic leadership, True Vine expanded its outreach dramatically. The church fed the hungry, supported charities, assisted the sick and needy, launched after-school programs, and distributed 5,000 pounds of food each month. It established the Student Referral Center through a $125,000 grant from the Louisiana Department of Education, acquired 100 computers, purchased new property, and supported evacuees during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The church continued to grow under Rev. Shorter's leadership until his passing in 2022. During his tenure, it carried out a Debt Reduction Program, accumulated significant building funds, worshiped temporarily at Peabody Magnet High School, and in 2009 marched joyfully into its new 19,500-square-foot sanctuary at 831 Broadway Avenue.
In 2019, Rev. Wilfred Gallien, Jr., became Interim Pastor and guided the church through the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was installed as pastor on August 20, 2023. Under Pastor Gallien's leadership, True Vine has welcomed new trustees, deacons, and deaconesses, revised its bylaws, and made history by welcoming Rev. Loraine Holmes as the first woman to preach from its pulpit. The church has also renovated its Food Pantry with grant funding and established new ministries, including the Welcome Committee and the Outreach Ministry.
The thread running through True Vine's 126-year history is service. From the early auxiliaries organized to serve women, girls, and young people, to the feeding of the hungry, the after-school programs, the Student Referral Center, the monthly distribution of food, and the support offered to families displaced by hurricanes, True Vine has shown, generation after generation, that faith is lived out in care for one's neighbors. Its Food Pantry, renovated and expanded under Pastor Gallien, carries that tradition forward today.
The impact of True Vine extends well beyond its own membership. As one of the longstanding congregations of Alexandria, it contributes to the strength of the broader faith community, standing alongside other churches in the shared work of nurturing faith, supporting families, and serving those in need, and its support for families in times of crisis has made it a trusted partner for the community as a whole. In striving to be “Alexandria's Community Church,” True Vine has embraced a role that reaches far beyond Sunday worship.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing True Vine Baptist Church, Pastor Wilfred Gallien, Jr., and the dedicated congregation for more than 125 years of faith and service. True Vine remains committed to its mission to Love, Serve, and Teach, building on its powerful foundation and striving to fulfill its vision of being “Alexandria's Community Church.” May it continue to flourish for generations to come.