The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Griffin Lotson

Sams Memorial Church of God in Christ
Darien, GA

Sponsor: Rep. Jack Kingston, (R-GA)
Date of Prayer: 11/08/2005

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a friend of mine and a fellow Georgian who had the great honor of giving our opening prayer today. The Reverend Griffin Lotson is a man of great character and has served as our Guest Chaplain.

Reverend Lotson has been a pastor of Sams Memorial Church of God in Christ in Crescent, Georgia, for 18 years. During that time he has also served as executive director of Sams Memorial Community Economic Development, a nonprofit organization dedicated to affording low–income citizens the opportunity to realize the American dream of purchasing a home.

Reverend Lotson and Sams Memorial have been able to partner with the Federal, State and local governments to develop a multimillion–dollar housing development in Georgia. Through his hard work, families who never imagined they would be able to afford a home for their children are now achieving that dream.

His success has earned him many awards. Reverend Lotson was voted 2005 Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club of McIntosh County and was a national award winner of the 2005 Rural Leader of America, just to name a few.

Reverend Lotson has been blessed in his personal life as well as in his ministry. He and his beautiful wife of 28 years, Carolyn, have three children, all of whom have bravely served this country as members of the Navy and the United States Air Force.

Mr. Speaker, through his hard work and dedication, and through the gospel of Jesus Christ, Griffin Lotson has earned the respect and admiration of the members of his church, his community and his State. It is an honor to have him with us today.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Our Father and Lord, we thank you for all your blessings as we pray today for our nation and all leaders in America.

Today we pray for your protection for every man and woman serving in our Armed Forces. We pray for strength for their families. May they know the peace of God that passes all understanding.

God, you guide all creation with loving care and establish an order that governs all of us. God help us to trust in your faithful love and deepen our love for one another, especially for those most in need.

We pray for our schools, teachers and students, for their spiritual and educational success.

Give us knowledge to know that it is you who are the source of our unity and peace; it is you who unites us all. This we ask in the Lord’s name.

Amen.

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