The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Robert A. Thrift

St. Bernice Baptist Church
Terre Haute, IN

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Brian Kerns, (R-IN)
Date of Prayer: 10/09/2002

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. KERNS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to welcome Robert A. Thrift from St. Bernice, Indiana, as our guest chaplain.

Reverend Thrift has been pastor of St. Bernice Baptist Church for 8 years. He has four wonderful children: Paul, Janie, Ann, Carrie; and seven beautiful grandchildren: Mason, Tyler, Paige, Carson, Claire, Courtney, and Cole. His son Paul and grandson Carson are, in fact, with us today.

Reverend Thrift graduated from Houston Baptist University where he received his BA. He is also a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been a pastor both in Texas where he was born and in Indiana where he resides with his family.

Reverend Thrift has always helped those who are less fortunate. He has assisted juveniles who had drug problems and alcohol problems, and he also spends his time giving comfort to those who have been hospitalized.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for all of Indiana and myself to have Reverend Thrift present the prayer today in the United States House of Representatives.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Heavenly Father, it is indeed a privilege to share in the opening ceremony of a daily session of the Congress of the United States of America.

Yet it is an awesome privilege to come confidently into Your presence to ask for help in times like these.

We give You praise and thanksgiving for who You are, what You are like, and all You have done for us individually and collectively.

Thank You for the heritage we have as one Nation under God. Forgive us in departing from You. May we return and remain true to that heritage.

For the Members of Congress we pray that wisdom would enter each heart, that understanding would be their delight and that discretion would guard and guide them in all their deliberations.

We bring these petitions and praise You because the kingdom, all power, and all glory truly belong to You.

In Thy name, Amen.

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