The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Dr. Roger D. Willmore

First Baptist Church
Weaver, AL

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Bob Riley, (R-AL)
Date of Prayer: 03/30/2001

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Dr. Roger Willmore from Calhoun County, Alabama, to our Nation's Capitol to perform a sacred and time–honored tradition. Congress begins each day with a prayer, and to have a fellow Alabamian deliver it this morning makes everyone back home very proud, especially the members of the First Baptist Church in Weaver, Alabama.

He has been pastor there since 1995. He is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham and Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Dr. Willmore also holds masters and doctorate degrees from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida.

Since becoming a Southern Baptist pastor in 1971, Dr. Willmore has served both at home and abroad, performing missionary work in South America and Africa. He has taught at Kiev Christian University in the Ukraine. Dr. Willmore is married to Sandra Carroll of Arab, Alabama; and together they are the proud parents of one son, Steven Andrew.

In his prayer, Dr. Willmore asked God to give Congress wisdom and guidance so it can lead our Nation to a bright and blessed future. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of us to work together today and every day so that the hopes and aspirations in that prayer will become a reality.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Heavenly Father, we enter into Your presence with praise and adoration and thanksgiving in our hearts for who You are. We acknowledge You as our creator and sustainer. We are dependent upon You in every area of life.

Today I am asking that You would impart wisdom and guidance to the officers and Members of this body. May their decisions today and every day be in Your will. May they find in You the spiritual resources for all that is required of them.

Father, I pray for our President and Vice President and all Members of Congress as they work together to lead our country in a manner that would be pleasing to You.

Lord, I thank You for our great country. I thank You for every blessing You have bestowed upon us. I ask You to forgive us where we have failed You and enable us to live in a manner that would be pleasing to You.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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