Reverend Jonathan Weaver
Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church
Bowie, MD
Sponsor: Rep. Steny Hoyer, (D-MD)
Date of Prayer: 03/26/2014
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor this morning to express the gratitude of the House for this morning's opening prayer by one of Maryland's most dynamic and inspirational faith leaders, my dear friend, Pastor Jonathan Leslie Weaver.
Pastor Weaver likes to share with visitors to his church this verse from Psalms 68: ‘‘Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits.''
For the past 25 years, Mr. Speaker, Reverend Weaver has been sharing the benefits of his care and his wisdom with his flock at Greater Mt. Nebo African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bowie, Maryland.
Pastor Weaver has overseen its growth from 100 members in 1988 to more than 1,600 today. It now has more than 50 ministries serving the church and our wider community.
Under the pastor's leadership, the church is engaged in numerous charitable works, including reentry programs, community–based violence prevention, and antihunger projects.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, Pastor Weaver has been at the center of an economic empowerment effort which has advantaged literally tens of thousands of people in our area and now has five chapters throughout our country.
I thank Pastor Weaver, along with his wife, Pamela, for their many years of service. They are a blessing to our community.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
To You, O Lord, the God of the universe and the author and finisher of life, we come today expressing our thanks for all that You have done for us, not just within the last few moments, but over the sweep of our lives, the triumphs as well as the turmoil.
We pray that as the Members of Congress deliberate today, grant them even greater wisdom so that their actions will honor You in what they do to serve the people they represent.
Help all of us to continue to look beyond ourselves and our personal interests and to seek ways to make life better for those around us, both near and far.
I pray that even with and through our differences, that You will unite us as a people, so that our Nation will continue to prosper and honor You.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory