Reverend R. Perez Gatling
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Virginia Beach, VA
Sponsor: Rep. Elaine Luria, (D-VA)
Date of Prayer: 05/21/2019
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend Perez
Gatling, the 13th pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.
I thank him for his powerful and poignant prayer on the House floor and know that his words will give Congress strength.
Known as "the church that reaches out," Ebenezer Baptist Church is the oldest African American church in the city of Virginia Beach and has been the cornerstone of our community since 1859.
Pastor Gatling leads it by humble example, sharing with whomever he
meets his personal motto: "I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody."
Pastor Gatling is not only a faith leader, but also a mentor to so many through his church's prolific community outreach, specifically,
for students of all ages.
Pastor Gatling is accompanied today by his loving family: Veleka
Gatling, Lewis Gatling, Russell Gatling, Cleo Gatling, Leo V. Williams, Carolyn Williams, and Mary Bowen.
Thank you for joining us today. Thank you, Pastor Gatling, for bringing your wise words and your wonderful family to visit us in Congress.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
O, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the Earth.
We give thanks for this day that You have made, and we give thanks for these courageous and committed public servants who You have called
and commissioned to be the voices of the people. We are grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, and we are thankful for all of the patriarchs and matriarchs and our uniformed and civilian soldiers who unselfishly sacrificed their lives as payment for this freedom.
I pray that You will endow our legislative leaders with knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and discernment. Give each leader in this Chamber a heart for the people they represent. I pray that through today's proceedings, a more perfect Union will be formed, justice will be established, domestic tranquility will be assured and ensured, and the blessings of liberty will be secured to ourselves and our posterity.
In Jesus' name, amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory