Reverend Gary Strickland
Kingdom Place
Lumberton, NC
Sponsor: Rep. Mike McIntyre, (D-NC)
Date of Prayer: 05/01/2008
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
(Mr. McINTYRE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased today to introduce the Reverend Gary Strickland who just delivered the invocation for the U.S. House as we, as a Nation, begin this National Day of Prayer, a time when communities across America will be joining in prayer for our country today.
And what better person to begin this day than a man whose ministry has carried him across North Carolina, touching people from all walks of life, from the booming coastal city of Wilmington to rural communities like Pikeville, Wilson, and Little Washington, North Carolina, to the All–American cities of Fayetteville and Lumberton.
The former Christian Education Director for the North Carolina Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Gary now pastors a vibrant, nondenominational, multicultural church named Kingdom Place that is growing exponentially and has a wide–ranging ministry that shares God's love and the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.
Born and reared in Southeastern North Carolina, he is married to my sister, Karon McIntyre Strickland , who's with us today, and they have two children, Joel and Amy; two grandsons, Bailey and Bentley; and a son–in–law, Steve.
Gary is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where he served as student body president. He received his master's in religious education at Duke and his master's of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
As my brother–in–law, I'm particularly honored to have had him open us today on the National Day of Prayer.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Our dear Heavenly Father, on this National Day of Prayer, we publically acknowledge You to be: the Lord of the Universe; the Author of Creation; the Arbiter of History; and the Savior of Mankind! We bow before Your Providence, and celebrate your Goodness to our Nation! Thank you for blessing America! Bless this Chamber of decision–makers and let each of them seek Your guidance in every matter affecting our Country. Bless this Chamber of Legislators and let each of them vote always according to Your eternal standards which transcend time and personal preference! Bless this Chamber of social leaders and let each of them model for us Your healing virtues of compassion, mercy, integrity, forgiveness, and service! We bow before your power celebrating Your goodness to us as a people! Thank you for blessing America! In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we ask and pray all these things.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory