Reverend Dr. Carl White
Highland Baptist Church
Meridian, MS
Sponsor: Rep. Gregg Harper, (R-MS)
Date of Prayer: 05/27/2010
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I am honored today to introduce the House of Representatives' guest chaplain of the day, Dr. Carl White . He is the pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi, and I can say that I would not be here today if it were not for my dear friend Carl White .
I met Carl in 1971 when we were 15–year–olds in the 10th grade in high school. We became great friends, and he invited me to join him for the Campus Life, Youth For Christ, meetings that were held at the high school. The last meeting of that year was when I made a profession of faith in Christ.
Then Carl invited me to join him at church, and it was there that I met my future wife. Sidney was 15 and I was 17 on our first date, and our first date was with Carl White and his future wife, Frances. Those are special memories. We have been at each other's weddings, and we have been dear friends now for almost 40 years.
Madam Speaker, I want to say what a profound impact that Carl White has had in my life and how we thank him for his service as pastor of the folks in his church. May God bless him.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Dear Lord our God, in these turbulent times when rhetoric is hot and passions aflame, be with us.
Help the members of this body to draw the lessons gained from the struggles of history – that by respecting one another, we show the ultimate respect for you, our creator.
Help us to remember that it is never wrong to stand for freedom and that it is best when we listen more than we speak.
Show us anew the awesome power that is unleashed from the heart of love, and teach us yet again that most simple but profound lesson of life – that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Guide this House as they debate, vote, and interact with one another and their constituents. May we as a people conduct ourselves in such a way that we demonstrate our gratitude for your continual blessings.
In your name we pray, Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory