[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 3 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE GUEST CHAPLAIN'S PRAYER

  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, we were privileged to be led in our opening 
prayer today by Reverend Dr. Neal Jones, a fancy title for some of us 
who know him as ``Pastor Jones.'' I think ``pastor'' is probably the 
most affectionate and endearing term that anyone can come up with in 
terms of someone that they feel close to and have had a relationship 
with. People know the Reverend Dr. Neal Jones as Pastor Jones because 
of his dedicated service as pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls 
Church, Virginia, for many, many years. He has been pastor to me and my 
family, the majority leader and his family, the President pro tempore 
and his family, and others of our colleagues in both the Senate and the 
House.
  ``Pastor'' is the appropriate word because of his love and his 
affection and his endearment that he has displayed toward us and our 
families. And we feel exactly the same way about him.
  Dr. Jones is a graduate of Texas Christian University, and Southwest 
Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been pastor of churches in Texas, 
but the primary focus of his ministry has been with Columbia Baptist 
Church in Falls Church, Virginia going back as far as March of 1969.
  He is currently retired. It is a loss to the people who have attended 
faithfully over the years Columbia Baptist Church.
  But, again, to his dear wife, Betty, and his family and his 
grandchildren, and the many organizations that he has been associated 
with and continues to be associated with--I will just name two of 
those: He is a member of the University Board of Regents at Baylor 
University in Texas, and has been on the Executive Board of Prison 
Fellowship from its very inception.

  Reverend Jones has a gift of prayer, and, as we heard this morning, 
an eloquence in prayer. I hope someday, if he has not already, that he 
will publish those prayers because they are exceptional.
  And he also has the gift of remembering those with whom he has come 
in contact with. Every once in a while I will receive a note with a 
prayer attached to it personalized to me and to our family, ``Just 
thinking of you, wanted to share this thought, your friend, Neal.'' I 
think that speaks as much about Neal Jones as anything else that I can 
say.
  I think the Senate is privileged and the Nation is privileged this 
morning to have had him lead us in our opening prayer.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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