The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Bobby C. Dagnel

First Baptist Church
Lubbock, TX

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, (R-TX)
Date of Prayer: 09/29/2004

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor someone who is very important to me in my life, and that is my pastor, Bobby Dagnel.

Bobby Dagnel opened today's session of the United States House of Representatives with an invocation that should guide us throughout the day as we do the people's business in the halls of the United States Congress.

Pastor Dagnel began his senior pastorship at First Baptist Church in Lubbock on August 4, 2002. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Texas at Tyler in 1985. And he went on to Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his Master's in Divinity in 1987. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Ministry at George W. Truett Seminary.

As Pastor Dagnel has traveled down this path, he has become a man of steadfast faith. He understands personally what it means to transform one's life from one without direction to one that is full of purpose and meaning. Pastor Dagnel is a wonderful family man, a loving husband to his wife, Patti, and a father to his daughter, Courtney, who is 14, and to his son, Hunter, who is 12.

I want to thank Pastor Dagnel for answering the call to help others find their way and serving as an example for all that follow. God Bless Pastor Dagnel.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Our most gracious heavenly Father, we offer thanksgiving for this day of life and the opportunities it brings. We acknowledge that the freedoms afforded us by this great democracy creates within us not a license to do as we please, but a responsibility to act in a way that pleases you.

As this capable body of elected public servants entertain the multitude of issues before them, I pray they might have the wisdom of Solomon, who urged us to look neither right nor left but to keep our eyes fixed straight ahead; to do what is right; to do that which reflects the true spirit of democracy, giving consideration to and deeming of equal importance the rights and freedoms of every person, whether in the majority or the minority, of both the strong and the weak.

We remember, also, this day, those who stand in harms way to protect and promote these very tenets of democracy we hold dear.

In Your Name, Amen.

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