Doctor David O. Dykes
Green Acres Baptist Church
Tyler, TX
Sponsor: Rep. Louie Gohmert, (R-TX)
Date of Prayer: 09/10/2008
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Dr. David O. Dykes has been pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church for about 17 years while being a true leader, spiritual guide, and dear friend.
In Tyler, Texas, Green Acres has over 14,000 members and is the most mission–minded church anywhere. Recognized this year with the highest award of the Southern Baptist Convention, Brother David, as his church knows him, has taken seriously the admonitions of Jesus to feed His sheep, minister to their needs, and take the Gospel into all the world.
As I heard here from a Florida pastor yesterday, Brother David is truly an inspiration and a blessing because of his evident burden for reaching out to help others. He faithfully serves our church, the local community, our country and world. He dearly loves his amazing wife, Cindy, their daughters Jenni and Laura Grace, and their husbands Jason and Jim. He and Cindy are now the proud grandparents of Lizzi and Caroline. God's love is evident in the life and love of Brother David as today's congressional chaplain.
Madam Speaker, though I am allowed only 1 minute, it would take many times more than that to adequately extol the virtues of this great American pastor.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Like David, I pray, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped."
Lord, on this date seven years ago, we were not prepared for how our nation and our lives would change within a single day. But since that day, we have found that Your grace is enough. We desperately depend on Your future grace. We praise You that You are not a spectator God who sits in heaven uncaring and unconcerned. You are a loving Father who has numbered the hairs of our head. Your wounded feet still walk with us on the road of suffering. Your heart that was broken on the cross still feels our every pain.
May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done. We humbly ask in the name that is above every name, Your Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory