[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H6619-H6620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WELCOME TO REV. DON BOWEN

  (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today's invocation was given by 
the Reverend Don Bowen who has been the Pastor at the Downtown Baptist 
Church in Alexandria VA, for 30 years. He is retiring at the end of 
this month, and it is our privilege and honor that he has an 
opportunity to address this body.
  He has done a tremendous service to the entire Washington 
metropolitan area, in mission outreach, in serving our youth, in so 
many areas. He has been the president of the ministers conference and 
the president of the Mount Vernon Baptist Association. He has been the 
chairman of the Committee to Study Baptist Priorities of the 1980's and 
beyond. He has achieved any number of credentials, but most important 
he is a man of God who has served his community in an exemplary 
fashion. He has also preached revivals around the country, in Virginia, 
North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, West Virginia, and particularly, in 
Mississippi.
  Mr. Speaker, that will be my segue to yield to the gentleman from 
Mississippi [Mr. Wicker], who attends the Downtown Baptist Church and 
would like to say a few words as well.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  Although I have not heard Reverend Bowen preach a revival in 
Mississippi, I have had the opportunity to visit Downtown Baptist 
Church and to hear the sermons of Rev. Don Bowen on numerous occasions 
when I found myself in Alexandria. I would observe that it takes good 
oratory and skills of persuasion to be a successful preacher. But there 
is something even more special about the people skills and spiritual 
gifts necessary to lead a congregation and to become a great pastor.
  Mr. Speaker, it occurs to me that Rev. Don Bowen during his 30 years 
at Downtown Baptist Church in Alexandria has exhibited all of these 
qualities. I could congratulate Don Bowen on 30 years of service, and I 
wish him Godspeed upon his retirement.

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