[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8871-S8872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE GUEST CHAPLAIN
Mr. HELMS. Madam President, during my almost 30 years in the Senate,
I have been honored to welcome dozens of remarkably gifted guest
Chaplains. Today's guest Chaplain, Anne Graham Lotz, of Raleigh, NC, my
hometown, is
[[Page S8872]]
one of North Carolina's most distinguished citizens and one of
America's most beloved evangelists who, for more than 25 years, has
been taking the good news of Jesus Christ across the United States and
to many foreign countries.
Of course, she is the daughter of the remarkable two people, Billy
and Ruth Graham. And this remarkable lady has preached the gospel to
hundreds of thousands of Americans, filling up large civic arenas in
countless major U.S. cities as well.
Anne Graham Lotz has addressed the United Nations General Assembly in
New York. She represented her distinguished father at Amsterdam 2000,
the largest gathering of evangelists in history.
Anne Graham Lotz is a leader of Just Give Me Jesus, which is making a
nationwide tour to spark a spiritual revival. This past April, Anne's
tour came to Raleigh where more than 26,000 people packed our city's
largest arena for 2 days of singing and praying and teaching, led by--
who else?--Anne Graham Lotz.
Anne is the final guest Chaplain whom Dot Helms and I will have the
privilege of hosting. That is appropriate because Dot's and my family
have known and loved her and her great family for a long time.
The first time I heard Anne's blessed father, Billy Graham, was in
1951. At that time, I was administrative assistant to a distinguished
Senator from North Carolina, the late Willis Smith. Billy preached just
steps from this Chamber on the East Front of the Capitol, and I had
read in the Washington Sunday morning paper that he was to be here. And
I said: Mercy, I don't believe he will have anybody here. I am going
over there and make sure that one North Carolinian joins him. Well,
Madam President, there was standing room only from the doors of the
Capitol all the way to the Supreme Court.
Anne is joined today by her husband, Dr. Danny Lotz, who was a star
basketball player during his years at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill.
Their two daughters, Rachel-Ruth and Morrow, are with us this morning
along with their husbands, Steven Wright and Traynor Reitmeier, and
Anne's granddaughter, Bell.
So, Madam President, Anne Graham Lotz is herself an integral part of
Billy Graham's remarkable legacy, and it is my honor to have presented
her to the United States Senate this morning.
I yield the floor.
Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I wish to welcome our guest Chaplain
today, along with Senator Helms. I am very proud that she would be our
guest Chaplain. Her father is a friend of all of ours and received the
well deserved congressional gold medal. It is obvious by listening to
Anne Graham Lotz that she possesses that same great character,
inspiration, and leadership as a preacher as well. I welcome her to the
Senate and compliment and congratulate Senator Helms for inviting her
to be our guest Chaplain.
____________________