Reverend Barry Cook
Ambassador Family Church
Oceanside, CA
Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-CA)
Date of Prayer: 02/07/2003
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to introduce our guest chaplain, Senior Pastor Barry Cook, of the Ambassador Family Church in Oceanside, California.
Pastor Barry Cook was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. He attended Logos Christian College and has a doctorate in Ministry, Christian Leadership, and Church Growth. Dr. Cook has been a full–time minister for almost 20 years.
Pastor Cook is joined today by his wife Terri, whom he has been married to for 13 years. He is also joined by his daughter, Joy, who is a fourth grader at Vista Christian School.
After opening its doors seven years ago, Ambassador Family Church has quickly grown to approximately 800 attending members. Pastor Cook has been very active in outreach efforts to the community through local food and clothing distribution, financial recovery seminars, leadership classes and marriage and family counseling.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chaplain Coughlin for his invitation to Pastor Cook to offer the invocation. I would also like to thank the Cooks for traveling to our Nation's capital to be with us today.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Father God:
We come to You in the name of Your only Son, Jesus Christ to make petition before You on behalf of this great nation.
We pray first for our armed forces. Thank you for providing America with the best trained and led military force in the world today. May You guide and protect those engaged in conflict. Give wisdom to everyone involved in the elimination of terrorism. Provide insight to our national authorities on ways to guard and defend the safety of all Americans both home and abroad.
Bring comfort to all those who are suffering loss as a result of various national crisis.
For these representatives today, give them wisdom to make decisions to strengthen and prosper our nation. Cause Congress to be motivated more by Your hand than partisan or personal concern.
Let all who hear Your Word turn to You for guidance, courage and hope.
Lord, we again pray the words of George Bush, our 41st U.S. President: Be with us, as You were with our fathers; may You not leave us or forsake us; so that we may incline our hearts to You, to walk in all Your ways, that all peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory