[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 73 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CELEBRATING REVEREND CHARLES W. SPRINKLE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commend 
and celebrate the life and Golden Anniversary Celebration for Reverend 
Charles W. Sprinkle who has pastored Glady Baptist Church in Candler, 
North Carolina for fifty years.
  Reverend Sprinkle was born and reared in Madison County, North 
Carolina, son and grandson of pastors. He was the sixth child of 
fourteen, five of whom are also pastors. Following his graduation from 
Marshall High School, Reverend Sprinkle completed a tour of duty with 
the Navy.
  He was called to preach in October 1950. New Morgan Hill Baptist 
Church licensed Reverend Sprinkle on June 20, 1951 and ordained him on 
July 29, 1951. In May 1951, he was asked by Glady Baptist Church to 
preach and asked to be their pastor in June of the same year, fully a 
half a century ago. Reverend Sprinkle remains at Glady Baptist today.
  Pastor Sprinkle says that he received his training with his head 
buried in the Bible while on his knees. During his half-century 
ministry, five young men have been called to preach under his 
stewardship. Referring to these men as ``my boys in the gospel,'' he is 
very proud of the great work they are doing for the Lord.
  As the Glady Baptist congregation grew, it became necessary to build 
a new church building in the early 1970s. Due to Pastor Sprinkle's 
leadership the new brick church they use today was completely paid for 
in just one year.
  In the past fifty years, Pastor Sprinkle has conducted 102 revivals, 
performed 98 weddings and 361 funerals. Throughout the joys and 
sorrows, Pastor Sprinkle notes, ``I have seen good times and I have 
seen hard times, but God's grace was always with us. What a great God 
we serve!''
  Reverend Sprinkle credits much of the success of his ministry to his 
wife, Lois, a faithful teammate for sixty years.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that all of my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives join me in praising Reverend Charles W. Sprinkle for 
his fifty years of service to Glady Baptist Church and the Lord.

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