[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     INTRODUCING PASTOR JOHN APPEL

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, Pastor Appel's ministry 
extends beyond his congregation to embrace the entire Frederick 
community, as well as missions abroad. He is currently serving as the 
president of the Ministerial Association of Frederick County, Maryland. 
This organization is composed of all of the ministers in the county. It 
meets monthly to engage in fellowship, dialogue, and to promote 
interfaith cooperation and activities to meet the spiritual needs of 
Frederick County residents.
  Pastor Appel is also an active supporter of the Adventist Church's 
Hope for Humanity projects in southern Africa in response to the HIV/
AIDS epidemic. Pastor Appel explained: ``Hope for Humanity is coming to 
this program saying, `Here are some challenges, here are some needs. We 
are a world church. We just can't stay focused congregationally. We've 
got to start thinking about our brothers and sisters around the world 
who need our help.' ''
  Mr. Speaker, today's prayer continues a tradition that began when 
Benjamin Franklin spoke during a moment of crisis at the Constitutional 
Convention, and these are his words: ``In the days of our contest with 
Great Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in 
this room for divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they 
were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle 
must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in 
our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity to 
establish our Nation. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? 
Do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, 
a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of 
this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men.
  ``If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it 
probable that a new Nation can rise without his aid? We have been 
assured, sir, in the sacred writings that except the Lord build the 
house, they labor in vain that build it. I therefore beg leave to move 
that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its 
blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning 
before we proceed to any business.''
  Mr. Speaker, I am really honored that my pastor, Pastor John Appel, 
senior pastor of the Frederick Seventh-day Adventist Church and 
currently serving as the president of the Ministerial Association of 
Frederick County, is here today to continue this precedent followed by 
both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

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