Reverend Dr. George Dillard
Peachtree City Christian Church
Peachtree City, GA
Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Jack Kingston, (R-GA)
Date of Prayer: 10/17/2001
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure today to introduce my friend, Dr. George Dillard of the Peachtree City Christian Church in Peachtree City, Georgia.
George Dillard and his wife, Renee, and his children have been friends of mine for many years. We met in 1992 when I was running for office and George helped me a lot, not just in terms of let us get out and get some votes, but as a candidate, you often go through peaks and valleys and many, many dark hours. And George helped me through those, gave me a lot of advice. He also was one of the first persons that I called when my Aunt Louie died because I wanted to ask him a few questions about her beliefs; and George was there to give me some very sage, Biblical advice.
George has been a friend through the period when the guards at the United States Capitol were shot and killed. He was a friend during the trials and tribulations regarding the impeachment debate. He has been a friend through Bosnia and Kosovo, and now Afghanistan. All the perils. He was among the first to call me after the tragedy of September 11 and said, what can I do to help? He has opened this
House Chamber in the past with prayer before, and so it is good to have a familiar voice and a familiar face with us.
Now, George was pastor in Rincon, Georgia in the first district of Georgia when I was running in 1992, but having done great works there and converted so many souls, he realized he needed to go up to the third district of Georgia where the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. COLLINS) was elected. I think he felt like there must be a need, and so he is now a constituent of my great friend, the gentleman from the third district of Georgia (Mr. COLLINS).
So I am going to yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. COLLINS) and let him complete the introduction of Dr. George Dillard . To George , let me just say thank you.
Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I appreciate the fact that Reverend George Dillard did move to the third district of Georgia. As we can tell by his opening prayer, he is a messenger of God's word; and he is also one who believes in returning the message to God based on the things that he sees and the things that are happening in this country and asking for the need and the help of God. I welcome him here today.
I think it is great that he opened the House this morning. His wife and children were here last year and as he was leaving home yesterday and he called in, his children answered and said, Where are you? He said, I am in Congressman COLLINS's office. They said, oh, that is Uncle Mac. Tell him we will be back to see him, and we want them to come. His family does great work in Peachtree City, Georgia. He will do great work wherever he goes because he is delivering the message of God.
Thank you, George Dillard , for being here this morning. Thank you, Chaplain, for inviting him to come up and participate here this morning.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Almighty God, Creator, the One who with a Word spoke all things into existence and who even now holds all things together by the power of Your might, we come humbly into Your presence today seeking grace and mercy to help in time of need. As we acknowledge You as the Sovereign Lord of this nation, we seek Your will in all the decisions that will be made in this place by these men and women who have given themselves as servants of the people. We ask that You give each member of this House a heart of wisdom. Create, O God, in us a heart committed to You. Father, we thank You for the blessings of freedom and liberty for we acknowledge these as Your gifts. It is our prayer that we do not use our freedom and liberty as a covering for evil, but as an opportunity to proclaim Your truths. Father, my prayer is that the eyes of our hearts might be open that we can see the evil that seeks to destroy, that we might be prepared to stand against the schemes of the evil one. We pray for revival in our land, for a return to the truth, morals and values from Your Word that once governed our lives. We ask for the wisdom to trust in You and Your Son Jesus as the source of our courage, power and strength to lead us through this present darkness. Father, we do not know what our tomorrows hold, but we know that You hold our tomorrows. So then, we ask that You bless this House, our President and the other leaders of this great nation. Cleanse our hearts from every sin, teach us to walk in Your paths and to live in Your righteousness and justice, bind our hearts and minds together in one great nation that honors and serves You. We give You all the glory, honor and praise and we pray in Your Son and Our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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