[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 148 (Tuesday, October 21, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9740-H9741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WELCOMING THE REVEREND TOM NELSON, GUEST CHAPLAIN

  (Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today is a special day for me and a special 
day for this House to have our deliberations blessed by the Reverend 
Tom Nelson.
  Born in 1950 in Waco, Texas, Tom grew up in a family of four boys. 
For higher education, he chose the University of North Texas, my alma 
mater, where he graduated in 1973.

[[Page H9741]]

  Reverend Nelson received his calling to the Ministry early and 
entered Dallas Theological Seminary from 1977 to 1982 while he was 
Associate Pastor at Denton Bible Church. He has been pastoring at 
Denton Bible Church for 25 years and is presently the Senior Pastor.
  Some of his outreach has included being a national speaker for the 
Fellowship of National Athletes and active leader for Campus Crusade 
for Christ and the Navigators.
  In the past 15 years, Tom has built Denton Bible Church into one of 
the largest congregations in north Texas. Besides the four Sunday 
services at Denton Bible Church, Tom disciples 30-plus young men each 
year. The program includes ministry, evangelism, and service and meets 
four times a week. Tom also teaches two men's bible studies, one on 
Tuesdays in Lewisville at Lakeland Baptist Church and one on Wednesdays 
at Denton Bible Church. At home in Highland Village, I have attended 
his Tuesday bible study. His messages are powerful and prepare us well 
to go out into the playing field of life.
  He has authored three books, ``The Big Picture, ``The Book of 
Romance,'' and, ``The Problem of Life With God,'' a commentary on the 
Book of Ecclesiastes. He is also the teacher for three video series and 
his taped messages travel throughout the world.
  His wife, Teresa, is his best friend and secretary. Their older son, 
Benjamin, and his wife Amanda, live in Lewisville, Texas, and have just 
made them the proud grandparents of a baby boy, Thomas Clark. Their 
other son, John Clark, played baseball for the University of Kansas 
Jayhawks, and has gone on to play professional baseball with the St. 
Lewis Cardinals.
  I am honored the Reverend Tom Nelson could be with us here today. I 
know his blessing will make us more respectful in our debates, more 
careful in our deliberations, and more accountable for our decisions.

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