Reverend Martin Springer
Trinity Lutheran Ministries
Edwardsville, IL
Sponsor: Rep. John Shimkus, (R-IL)
Date of Prayer: 11/17/2011
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our guest
chaplain, Pastor Marty Springer, who has served as both an example of
his faith and civic duty.
Pastor Springer was raised in southern California, the youngest son of Marshall and Doris Springer. After graduating from high school, he worked in a bank while attending junior college and joined the United States Air Force in December of 1982. During his time serving on active duty, he was selected for the honor of serving in the Office of Presidential Protocol at Andrews Air Force Base during the Presidency of President Ronald Reagan.
He entered the Air Force Reserve in 1986 and also took a civil service position at Scott Air Force Base where he was the director of personnel for an Air Force telecommunications agency responsible for
all aspects of manpower, personnel, and training. During Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield,
Pastor Springer was recalled to serve in active duty and received the Air Force Achievement Medal for his service.
After 15 years of service to his Nation, Pastor Springer was called to serve God and entered Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1977. After graduating, Pastor Springer was ordained as a pastor of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in 2000.
He received his first call to Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Chester, Illinois. His service to his church and his community, including his work as chairman of the Chester Veterans Memorial Committee, earned him the honor of Outstanding Citizen of Chester in 2001.
Today, Pastor Springer serves as senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran
Ministries of Edwardsville, Illinois, where he oversees a church, Christian day school, and a day school center. He has completed three mission trips to Kazakhstan, Haiti, and Honduras and is working to complete his clinical pastoral education at Alexian Brothers Medical
System in St. Louis.
Pastor Springer has been a model of service for his community, his
church, and his Nation; and it's truly my honor, Pastor, to join my
colleagues in welcoming you as our guest chaplain. It's a privilege to represent you, and it's a privilege that you're here today.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
In the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Almighty God, grant your blessings to our land. Thank you for the freedoms that are ours as Americans; help us to be mindful of the principles on which it was founded: freedom and equality, justice and humanity.
Grant your blessings to the members of the United States House of Representatives. May they serve our nation with honesty and integrity and may they seek your guidance as they make the important decisions that affect us all.
Protect all who serve in the Armed Forces of this land. Bless their families during times of military deployments and give your peace to those whose loved ones have paid the ultimate price in the defense of liberty. Protect our nation from terrorist threat.
Hear these prayers and grant to us your peace, which passes all understanding. These things we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory