Reverend Dr. Benny Tate
Rock Springs Congregational Methodist Church
Milner, GA
Sponsor: Rep. Hon. Mac Collins, (R-GA)
Date of Prayer: 10/16/2003
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I introduce the Reverend Dr. Benny Tate from Rock Springs Congregational Methodist Church in Milner, Georgia. June and I are regular visitors to Dr. Tate's church.
Dr. Tate reminds me of a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville who came to America in 1831 to study democracy. And he wrote, and I quote, ‘‘I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and her boundless forests, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world of commerce, and it was not there; in our democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America then will cease to be great.''
Fourteen years ago Dr. Tate relocated to Georgia to pastor the Congregation of the Rock Springs Congressional Methodist Church. Under his tenure, the average Sunday morning
[Page: H9486] GPO's PDFattendance has grown from 30 to 750. To accommodate this growth, the church is in a building program at this time to build and construct a 1,100–seat sanctuary. Their motto is if God builds it, they will come.
Dr. Tate is the author of two books, Happy Wife, Happy Life, and, One More Night with the Frogs. He also hosts a popular weekly radio program, Apples of Gold. He and his wife Barbara and their daughter Savannah reside in Griffin, Georgia.
Dr. Tate is a pastor that I love, a pastor that I enjoy, and a pastor with a message that if God builds it, they will come because his message is one of righteousness.
I am proud to introduce, Dr. Benny Tate .
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Our most kind and gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day and the privilege to approach Your thrown. We are grateful that one of our forefathers, Ben Franklin, had the foresight to request that Congress begin each meeting by imploring the assistance of heaven.
Lord God, I lift up everyone here today to You in prayer , realizing that we often refer to them as politicians, but in Your Holy Book, you refer to them as ministers. And they are responsible to those they represent but ultimately to You.
I pray Your wisdom, direction, and guidance upon them and their families. I especially ask You to be with President Bush; lead him as he leads our Nation. I ask You to be with our soldiers, no matter where they are serving; protect them, and bring them home safe.
Lord, we still believe what George Washington stated more than 200 years ago: ‘‘It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.''
May we always be keenly aware of what made this Nation great and may we return to You.
I pray all this, in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, until You come, we pray.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory