The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Michael Rucker

Bible Baptist Church
Wichita Falls, TX

Sponsor: Rep. Mac Thornberry, (R-TX)
Date of Prayer: 06/26/2013

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, our guest chaplain today has been the pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas, for the past 20 years; but his ministry and passion for spreading the word of God has never been confined to the walls of any church building.

Mike Rucker , known to many as the "Flying Preacher," has been combining his love of auto racing and the ministry since 1985 when he and his wife of 40 years, Sherrie, began Rucker Racing Ministries. Since then, they have traveled to racetracks across the United States, spreading the good word while he races and while Sherrie often sings the national anthem.

Pastor Rucker also serves as the chaplain for the Wichita County Sheriff's Office and for the Wichita Falls Police Department and is a regular on Joe Tom White's ‘‘Rise 'n Shine'' radio show. In short, he has never been afraid to roll up his sleeves and be in the world while sharing the Gospel with folks across Texas and the Nation.

Pastor Rucker graduated from the Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, Texas. He and Sherrie have two sons, Michael and Matthew, and one daughter, Marlene, and five grandchildren.

I am pleased to help welcome Pastor Rucker , the "Flying Preacher," to the House today.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Dear Heavenly Father, we come into Your presence and thank You for all that You have done for this country.

We would ask Your leadership in the decisions that need to be made to keep this country great. Help us to put aside our personal feelings and do what is right for this great Nation and the people of this Nation.

Lord, we would ask You to help all the States that have had catastrophes the past few months. Continue to heal and restore back the things that have been lost or destroyed in these events.

We are so thankful for Your watch care over us. Keep us free from the tyranny of those who want to take our freedom away. Watch over our men and women in the military.

We appreciate the liberty You have so graciously blessed us with. We want to give You all the praise and the honor and the glory, and we thank You for it.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

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