Reverend Kenneth Simon
New Bethel Baptist Church
Youngstown, OH
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Ryan, (D-OH)
Date of Prayer: 06/04/2009
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Madam Speaker, I would like to welcome Reverend Kenny Simon to the House to lead us in prayer today. He is Youngstown born and Youngstown educated. He is a graduate of East High School and Youngstown State University. He did his biblical and religious training in Wheaton, Illinois. He was ordained in 1993, and in 1995 he succeeded his father, Reverend Lonnie Simon , as pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio.
In addition to his pastorate, Reverend Kenny Simon is very much involved in our community. He is the president of the board of Eagle Heights Academy. He is the chairman of the Mayor's Human Relations Commission. He is a board member of Crime Stoppers of Youngstown, past president of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches, past board member of the Western Reserve Port Authority, and a 2002 graduate of Leadership Mahoning Valley. Pastor Simon is the president of the Community Mobilization Coalition, a political organization that promotes voter registration and informs the urban community about the importance of voting and voting issues.
Reverend Kenny Simon and his wife, Wendy Wainwright, have three children, Keisha, Kenny and David. And as most of us do, he stands on the shoulders of his father, who is now pastor emeritus of New Bethel Baptist Church where he has served since 1962, Reverend Lonnie Simon . He too has been involved in many community activities, including service on the Youngstown Board of Education from 1972 to 1975 and was in the first Leadership Youngstown class in 1985.
In 1965, Reverend Lonnie Simon was one of the charter leaders of the March on Montgomery under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and participated in the Poor People's Campaign here in Washington, D.C. in 1969. Reverend Lonnie Simon and his wife of 58 years, Florence, have four children, seven grandchildren and four great–grandchildren.
Madam Speaker, it was an honor for us to be addressed by such a distinguished individual with such a distinguished family here at the House of Representatives.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Gracious God we come thanking you today for all of your blessings and the privilege you have given each of us to serve you by serving your people.
We thank you for our President, Barack Obama, who you have called and appointed to lead this nation for such a time as this, and ask your blessings upon him and his family.
We ask your blessings upon our Congressmen and women, leaders of this great nation, who you have given the charge to govern your people in the pursuit of liberty, justice and equality for all.
Bless this session, and in the midst of the many challenges our nation faces today, may your Spirit grant wisdom and give guidance to every decision that is made in this place.
Help us to move beyond our differences and party lines to the place where we can agree to differ, resolve to love and unite to serve.
In Your name we do pray and give thanks. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory