The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Doctor Jame Merritt

Cross Pointe Church
Duluth, GA

Sponsor: Rep. Rob Woodall, (R-GA)
Date of Prayer: 06/25/2019

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor of hosting the guest chaplain today, and I believe you were feeling his words that we are all going to be held to account at the end, as you recall, in that vote series there. Those are powerful words, and it is not just something he
shares in Congress today; it is something he shares with our entire community.

If you recognized his voice in that prayer, Mr. Speaker, it is
because he is the host of the Touching Lives Ministry. It can be seen
in all 50 States and around the world.

He has his lovely bride of more than four decades, Teresa, with him here in the gallery, and he leads back in my home State, Mr. Speaker,
Cross Pointe Church in Duluth.

He left First Baptist Church Snellville and was called to plant a new congregation. It is a powerful ministry, not just with the Word, but
with what the Word tells us we should do in deed, and it is lived out
there every day.

From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Speaker, he was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. I told the gentleman earlier that, if he can handle church politics, he can certainly handle the politics that we are
involved in here.

But the honor for me, because I have such deep respect for all of my
colleagues here, is to share a little bit of back home with each one of you.

Dr. Merritt embodies the Seventh Congressional District values of
faith and family and duty, and I am grateful to him, not just for his
prayers in ministry to me, not just for his prayers in ministry to our community, but to the entire Nation and to the world.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Our Father in Heaven, we come thanking You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins; for these men and women who have given their lives to public service; and for the freedom and the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that come from You, our creator.

I pray for every Member of this sacred House that You would give them the wisdom of Solomon to know what is right and the courage of Daniel to do what is right.

I pray that the golden rule would prevail in their interpersonal relationships. May they be ever mindful that they will give an account to You for every decision they make and every law they pass.

Finally, would You please revive us again that Your people may rejoice in You. Hear our prayer in the name that is above every name, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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