[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WELCOME TO REV. LARRY CHRISTENSON

  (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, our guest chaplain today is the Reverend 
Larry Christenson of Northome, MN, one of the coldest places in the 
United States of America I am told, and I come from Lake Placid, NY, 
which is often as cold as that, I guess.
  Pastor Christenson is a retired minister at the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church in America, and he and his wife now live in the northern woods 
of Minnesota. Pastor Christenson has written numerous books and spoken 
to groups around the world about the importance of family life. His 
book, ``The Christian Family,'' has sold well over a million copies.
  He has been involved in renewal work with the Lutheran Church for 35 
years, and he is director emeritus of the International Lutheran 
Renewal Center in St. Paul, MN.
  The House Chaplain, James Ford, shares something in common with our 
guest chaplain today. Both were educated at fine Minnesota colleges, 
and I understand there is an ongoing debate as to which one is the 
finer. Pastor Christenson received his BA from St. Olaf College in 
Northfield, MN, which is a college with Norwegian-American roots. 
Further south, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Olaf's Swedish 
competitor, claims Dr. Ford as one of its own.
  This is not Pastor Christenson's first trip to the Washington area, 
my friends. In fact, he has been visiting regularly over the past 
decade, with 2 of his sons and their families living in this area. His 
son Tim is an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, which is special to me, 
and he and his family live in Springfield, VA. His son Arnie is chief 
of staff to the Speaker of the House, who we all lean on so heavily, 
and he and his family live in Fairfax, VA.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to welcome Pastor Christenson to 
this House today. Welcome.

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