U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California’s 35th District, will be a guest speaker at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church’s 73rd church anniversary, Saturday, Aug. 25.

The church’s pastor, Rev. Mark Wilkerson, is Waters’ nephew. Wilkerson has been serving as the pastor at Pilgrim Rest since March, but has lived in the Tallahassee, Fla., area since 1985. The church is located at 849 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Bainbridge.

The gala is 6 p.m. at the Charter House Inn and is a fund raiser for the church. The event is open to the public, with a cost of $200 for a table of eight, or $28 for one person. Wilkerson said Friday there were only about 30 tickets remaining. Call him at (229) 416-7979 for more information.

Wilkerson said he appreciated his aunt’s willingness to take time out of her campaign season to visit Bainbridge.

“This is the first time she will ever visit this part of the country,” he said. “She has always been an excellent aunt and a great supporter in my life. I’m honored that she would make the time, especially on a weekend, to think enough about me and the city of Bainbridge and come to be our guest.”

Wilkerson said he believes Waters’ speech may have a political theme.

“I think that her speech is going to be in the direction of all people coming together and getting ready for the election in November,” he said. “And about how important that election is, and how it’s going to affect everybody.”

The anniversary celebration will conclude with a worship service Sunday, Aug. 26, at 11 a.m., with Wilkerson bringing the message. There will also be a 3 p.m. service, with Rev. Delwyn G. Williams of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Panama City, Fla., as the guest.

Waters has served in U.S. Congress since 1991, and has the longest tenure of any black congresswoman. She is a member and former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Waters is a firm supporter of Democratic President Barack Obama, and is typically recognized as one of the more liberal members of the U.S. Congress.