Reverend Jeff C. Hudson
Fredericktowne Baptist Church
Frederick, MD
Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, (R-MD)
Date of Prayer: 09/05/2002
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge and thank my constituent, Pastor Jeff Hudson of the Fredericktowne Baptist Church in Walkersville, Maryland, for offering today's opening prayer.
A graduate of the Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary, Reverend Hudson is the senior pastor at Fredericktowne Baptist Church. He has served for more than 20 years. He and his wife Brenda have 2 teenage sons, Joshua and Nathan.
Pastor Hudson's invocation of God's presence in our lives continues an unbroken tradition of an Opening Prayer for the Congress. At age 81, and at a moment of deadlock during the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin said, "I have lived, sir, a long time. And the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that a new Nation can rise without his aid? I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to any business."
Thanks to Mr. Franklin, Congress still does this.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Our God, we acknowledge that there is none like You. You alone are all–powerful. You alone are all–knowing. You alone are present everywhere at the same time. You alone are God.
As we approach the remembrance of the tragedy of 9–11, we are reminded of all that You have done for us as a Nation this past year. You have caused us to turn to You in a time of crisis. You have brought us to our knees and we have cried out to You. You have reminded us of our Heritage that we are one Nation under God.
May that truth guide the Members of the House today as they lead our Nation, and may they acknowledge that You are the sovereign Lord of our Nation. Grant them wisdom to know what they must do. Grant them courage to do what is right. May You be honored in this place today. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory