The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Rudy Stevens

United States Army
Pinehurst, NC

Sponsor: Rep. Howard Coble, (R-NC)
Date of Prayer: 02/15/2012

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) is recognized for 1 minute.

There was no objection.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me today to introduce Army Chaplain Rudy Stevens.

Captain Stevens lives in North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District and serves the 2 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

During his tenure, Mr. Speaker, Captain Stevens has received many awards, most notably the Bronze Star, the Air Assault Wings, and Jump Wings. He has been deployed, Mr. Speaker, on separate occasions and will continue his duty with a deployment to Afghanistan in the coming months.

On behalf of the constituents of the Sixth District of North Carolina and my colleagues here in the people's House, Chaplain Stevens, we welcome you to the House of Representatives and extend our appreciation to you for having offered today's prayer.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Lord, too often, we Americans back home forget to pray for our leaders here in D.C. Forgive us, Lord. For those assembled here in the people's House, I pray that You give them courage, strength, and wisdom.

Give them courage from our convictions, strength from Your spirit, and wisdom for the future. For here decisions are made: choices that shape circumstances of years, if not generations, of all Americans.

All the way from California to North Carolina that airborne chorus sounds off loud and strong with, ‘‘This land is my land, and this land is your land.''

And it is here in this room that chorus hits the ground and finds harmony reminding us that from many, we are one, one Nation under God that seeks liberty and justice for all, for all the fatherless and the oppressed.

So, Lord, hear our prayer and keep these leaders wise, strong, and courageous.

In Jesus' name, amen.

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