The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING WILIAM GILLISON
______
HON. BRIAN HIGGINS
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. William Gillison. Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Pastor William Gillison attended Lackawanna, New York schools and enrolled in the United States Army in 1965. Sixteen years later--in 1981--Reverend Gillison became the pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church. During his time at Mt. Olive, the church's capacity increased tenfold, from 150 to 1,500.
Early in his career, Reverend Gillison founded the Mt. Olive Development Corporation, which continues to provide subsidized apartments for low income residents. Mt. Olive also operates as a distribution center for food and other essentials in Western New York. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it served as a testing and vaccination site. Interviewed by WGRZ, Pastor Gillison said that ``The pandemic has really magnified and exposed in many cases the deficiencies in especially black and brown communities.'' Mt. Olive helped to lessen the racial disparities in vaccine distribution, furthering its mission and serving thousands of local community members.
Mt. Olive serves in every season. During the summer, the Church hosts a cookout and fireworks show for families. In the fall, it provides Thanksgiving dinners to 1,500 families. In the winter, through its Angel Tree Ministry program, it gives Christmas gifts to children of incarcerated men and women. Before he became president, George W. Bush visited Mt. Olive and was impressed with its work.
Pastor Gillison's experience with the government has not always been cordial. Working closely with attorney Johnnie Cochrane, Pastor Gillison fought to overturn a ban on bus routes to the Galleria Mall. This discriminatory practice prevented many people of color from shopping at the Mall, and even led to the killing of a worker who was forced to walk to her job at the Galleria Mall.
Pastor Gillison has served two terms as the President of the Baptist Ministers Conference and the Baptist Great Lakes Conference. He is the recipient of honorary doctorate degrees and has been recognized by national organizations for his ministry and service. He is particularly known for his interfaith communication; Pastor Gillison has traveled to Israel multiple times and formed relationships with both government and religious officials. None of this would have been accomplished without the help of his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Antonia Gillison. She has been his greatest supporter. While being a pastor he has also maintained his strong fatherly presence with his children.
Pastor Gillison has advanced our community spiritually, politically, and economically. He has been a tireless advocate for those with no hope and no voice. His leadership has transformed Mt. Olive into an indispensable beacon of light for our community and his work has touched lives across the country and world. During his fortieth anniversary as pastor, we celebrate how much Mt. Olive has accomplished, and we pray for the community it serves. Though he has accomplished much, Pastor Gillison is just grateful for the opportunity to serve. As he would say, ``To God be the Glory.''
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 104
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