[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H9725-H9726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM WORKS AWARD TO JOE WHITE, FOUNDER OF KIDS 
                             ACROSS AMERICA

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to have my good friends 
the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun) and the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Blunt) join me in presenting the Freedom Works Award to Joe White, 
founder of Kids Across America. I would like

[[Page H9726]]

to bring to the Houses's attention an exceptional individual who has 
changed the lives of thousands of kids across this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, Joe White has taken upon himself the responsibility to 
minister today's generation of young people. He founded Kids Across 
America as part of his larger family of Christian athletic camps in an 
effort to reach out to inner city kids and to give all of them a chance 
to go to summer camp. Today, Kids Across America is able to reach 
approximately 4000 urban youth each summer.
  Here kids can escape the troubles of the inner city and find refuge 
in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri for eight days. Kids get a chance to 
play over 25 sports, meet new friends, build relationships with a staff 
of 400 counselors and hear a message of hope.
  Look at these young men here. You can see the smiles on their faces, 
that their lives will be forever changed.
  Imagine a place where it is the in thing to read your bible daily, to 
pray for your friends, to encourage your opponents, to serve others 
before yourself. Imagine a place where role models and heroes are 
everywhere one looks. Imagine a place where peer pressure is a good 
thing, and violence and profanity and everything dark is left at the 
gate. There is no need to imagine. It can all be found at Kids Across 
America.
  America is a great Nation, and if we are going to be able to continue 
to be a great Nation in the future, it will be because of dedicated men 
like Joe White who has voluntarily taken upon himself the 
responsibility to make this world a better place.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt).
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today as the Majority 
Leader recognizes Joe White, Joe White from my district in southwest 
Missouri, Joe White with a doctors degree from Southwest Baptist 
University, Joe White who has devoted his life to kids.
  Mr. Speaker, Joe founded a foundation, the I Am Third Foundation, and 
I think the three principles of that foundation talk about what Joe's 
life is about and what these camps that the Majority Leader has talked 
about focus on. The I Am Third Foundation is God first, family second, 
and I am third. The individual is third. A life based on faith is part 
of these camps.
  Mr. Speaker, I have heard Joe White from memory quote entire books of 
the bible, quote the Book of First Timothy and in Paul's letter to 
Timothy in First Timothy Paul says:
  ``You are my true child in the faith.''
  Joe White becomes a father to children who need a male role model. 
Joe White becomes an example to kids who often do not have an example. 
Joe White has scholarshipped thousands of urban youth into a life and a 
life style for that eight days in southwest Missouri that changes their 
life from the time they come one year until the time so many of these 
want to come back and get to come back the second year.
  The picture that the Majority Leader has, the smile on his face, I 
think says it all. Joe White makes a difference in the lives of kids.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, again with your continued indulgence and the 
graceful generosity of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I 
yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun).
  Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, let me first of all add my congratulations to 
what Joe White has been able to do with the program in Missouri.
  As my colleagues know, I have had the opportunity to see hands on 
exactly what he does with the urban teenagers, and for them to be in an 
environment, a Christian environment in which they can have not only 
their character encouraged, but also feel safe and to be with people 
that love them, gives them a great opportunity to experience part of 
what life is all about, and Joe White certainly done a great job and is 
worthy of this award.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, let me finish with this point. So many times 
we have said around here that the idea is bigger than the man. Joe 
White once again has shown us the idea is never bigger than the child.

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