The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Doctor Lenny Stadler

Weddington United Methodist Church
Weddington, NC

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Sue Wilkins Myrick, (R-NC)
Date of Prayer: 05/15/2002

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to welcome Dr. Stadler from Weddington, North Carolina, to the House of Representatives. He is one of those people who is very dynamic and a true leader in our city and our area today.

It may be hard to believe, but he used to be a rock musician. That was before he decided that ambition left him spiritually empty, and he decided to pursue the call of Christ in his life.

He graduated from Duke University Divinity School and Asbury Theological Seminary, and he served in the Western District of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church for 23 years.

He is joined in his ministry by his wife, Shanna, and their children, Shalen and LenPaul. He has been a senior pastor in Weddington since 1989. Under his leadership, the church has become one of the fastest growing Methodist churches in the southeastern part of the United States.

He is very straightforward and powerful in his preaching, and he always is challenging his parishioners to rediscover the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I thank him for being here with us today.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Almighty God, I come to You in the matchless name of Jesus Christ! I give thanks to You for our great nation. I thank You for the vision You gave to our forefathers and the divine plan by which to govern our nation.

I pray for these representatives who have been placed in authority by the people of our nation. May they seek Your guidance in all deliberations. May they invoke Your wisdom in making the right decisions concerning the social welfare, the economics, and the protection of our nation.

I pray that You would instill within this gathered body the desire to be motivated by Your just cause rather than by political or partisan causes.

Finally, I pray that You will help all of us realize that the cost of inconvenience is a small price to pay for the safety of our families and of our nation in a time of uncertainty. Amen!

To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory