[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOME TO REV. DR. RON MEHL

  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, it is my great pleasure today to 
introduce to my colleagues Rev. Ron Mehl, pastor of Beaverton 
Foursquare Church. Over the past several years, I have joined the ranks 
of Reverend Mehl's admirers. Uncompromising leadership and commitment 
to God have enabled him to embody the Biblical mandate to ``speak the 
truth in love.''
  Reverend Mehl pastors Oregon's Beaverton Foursquare Church. Twenty-
three years under his gifted teaching have made this one of Oregon's 
healthiest and most dynamic churches. Thousands sit in the pews of 
Beaverton Foursquare weekly. There are three services on Sunday, 
perhaps going to a fourth because of the tremendous turnout that holds 
some 2,500 or 3,000 people in the church sanctuary.
  When I am home, I count myself privileged to be one of many to hear 
Reverend Mehl's Biblical preaching.
  A man dedicated to pursuing God's calling, he has served in many ways 
over the years. Besides being a gifted preacher and counselor, Reverend 
Mehl is a celebrated author of three books, one of which, ``God Works 
the Night Shift,'' recently won the Evangelical Christian Publisher's 
Gold Medallion Award in the category of ``inspirational.''
  The Reverend Billy Graham, whom we recently honored, once said, ``The 
greatest form of praise to God is the sound of consecrated feet seeking 
out the lost and helpless.'' Reverend Mehl has spent the majority of 
his life doing just that--reaching out with the message of Christ and 
encouraging others to do the same.

  In I Peter, the apostle writes, ``Each one should use whatever gift 
he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace 
in its various forms.--I Peter 4:10. Reverend Mehl is a faithful 
steward of the gifts he has received and is an able administrator of 
God's grace.
  He has also been blessed by his wife Joyce and their two sons, Ron, 
Jr., and Mark. I had the pleasure of getting to know Mark 3 years ago 
when he participated in my internship program. Mark's strong character 
shone through during his brief tenure in my office, a great tribute to 
his parents in their rearing.
  Again, on behalf of my Senate colleagues we are privileged that 
Reverend Mehl is willing to fulfill the duties of Senate Chaplain 
today, and I would like to officially welcome him to this Chamber.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________