Doctor Jerry C. White
Riverside Baptist Church
Greer, SC
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Inglis, (R-SC)
Date of Prayer: 07/19/2005
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome to the House Dr. Jerry White , the president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and our guest chaplain this morning. Jerry has been preaching since the age of 13, pastoring for 33 years, 24 of those years in South Carolina, the last 7 at Riverside Baptist Church in Greer, South Carolina. His wife Janet and his father are here with us today. They have two sons, and, maybe most significantly, a brand new baby granddaughter.
Jerry's favorite hymn is Amazing Grace. His life verse is Philippians 4:13, ‘‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'' Truly the two work together because one of the stanzas of Amazing Grace is, ‘‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.''
That is what enables people like Jerry to pastor as they do, realizing that it is grace that causes them to be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens them. We thank him for offering the prayer this morning, and we welcome him to the House.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Almighty God our nation has experienced many victories because of people like those here today. Often success did not come with rushing speed but by persistence and faithfulness. We are in your hands as were our forefathers of old. Enlighten the minds of your servants with wisdom, guide their counsel and prosper their work that what they do shall result in good. Give calmness in the face of storms, encouragement in the face of frustration, and humility in the face of their success. May you grant them wisdom and virtue to perform their part with the fervor of a patriot and the art of statesmen in thought, word and deed. Direct their paths that they may lead with boldness and assurance knowing that our cause is far greater than any one of us. I pray this prayer in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory