[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF DR. IVAN RALEY

  (Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud 
recognition of Dr. Ivan Raley. Dr. Raley is a native Tennessean who has 
selflessly served the people and the State of Tennessee as a pastor for 
the last 30 years. My local church, the First Baptist Church in 
Byrdstown, has been blessed as the home of Dr. Raley for the last 3 
years, and today, following in the tradition established by Benjamin 
Franklin and our Founding Fathers, Dr. Raley delivered the opening 
prayer to the United States House of Representatives.
  In addition to serving as pastor of my local church, Ivan Raley works 
as regional vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home, 
Inc. The Tennessee Baptist Children's Home was founded in Nashville, 
Tennessee, in 1891 to provide residential care to orphaned, neglected, 
abandoned and abused children while helping them become whole persons 
in the name of the Lord.
  In my opinion, Dr. Raley is a rare individual who truly believes in 
serving his fellow man. By tirelessly spreading the message of faith, 
hope and caring for others, Dr. Raley has been able to help thousands 
of Tennesseans seek comfort in the Lord's arms. Dr. Raley understands 
that words like morals, values and faith are not just punch words that 
should be used shallowly for personal gain, but rather, they should be 
the foundation and driving force of every human life.
  Dr. Raley knows that love lives in the heart of every individual, 
whether they be friend or stranger, and that when we know and accept 
this love, we will understand the blessing of life that God has given 
us.
  I thank Dr. Raley for all he as done for me and my family and all he 
continues to do for the orphaned children in Tennessee.

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