The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Dr. Benny Tate

Rock Springs Church
Milner, GA

Sponsor: Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, (R-GA)
Date of Prayer: 09/09/2009

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our guest chaplain for the day here in the House, the Reverend Dr. Benny Tate . Dr. Tate has served the members of Rock Springs Congregational Methodist Church in Milner, Georgia, for 20 years, and I'm honored to count him as a friend.

Dr. Tate is a leader among God's followers. He's well known in Georgia for delivering powerful, informative, and even life–changing messages from the pulpit of his church and from behind the microphone of his radio show, Apples of Gold, which is broadcast statewide on 15 stations.

Rock Springs Congregational Methodist Church has thrived during Dr. Tate's tenure. The church has grown from 35 members when he took the helm 20 years ago to more than 4,600 worshippers today.

The church has put those resources into the service of God's people and the church's community. Every day, Rock Springs teaches the next generation to live by biblical principles at Rock Springs Christian Academy. Dr. Tate's church also conducts a prison ministry and a nursing home ministry, and it sponsors a medical clinic for the uninsured. Georgia's Third District is privileged to have wise and selfless religious leaders such as Dr. Tate . It's a great honor to have him with us here today.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Our Heavenly Father, we bow our heads in Your presence.

Today, we are reminded of the prayer of President Lincoln, who said, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for that day." This morning, we also come to You, realizing we are insufficient and incapable.

We come asking for divine protection for our men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over Your world. We acknowledge freedom is not free and the trees of every generation are watered with the blood of its sons and daughters. We ask You to preserve us and protect them.

We lift up our Congress, Senate and our President. May our leaders acknowledge their dependence upon You and seek wisdom and direction from You.

We pray this prayer, respecting all faiths, but pray it in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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