[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING REV. RICHARD DRANKWALTER ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

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                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2007

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor the Rev. Richard Drankwalter, the outgoing Pastor of Christ 
Lutheran Church in Brooksville, Florida. For nearly 37 years, Pastor 
Drankwalter has served the Lutheran Church with honor and distinction, 
all in the name of Jesus Christ.
  Born on July 4, 1944, in Queens, New York, Pastor Drankwalter has 
dedicated his life to serving the Church. Earning his Bachelor of 
Divinity and Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in 
Springfield, Illinois in 1970, he spent an early part of his career as 
Pastor of the Peace Lutheran Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Pastor 
Drankwalter then moved on to serve the Church in Illinois and New York, 
eventually moving to Brooksville, Florida in 1986. Pastor Drankwalter 
has been a minister at Christ Lutheran in Brooksville for nearly 20 
years.
  Pastor Drankwalter joined Christ Lutheran following service as pastor 
of Trinity Lutheran Church in Silver Creek, New York. At the time of 
his appointment there were 168 members of Christ Lutheran; today there 
are over 600. A sure sign of his family's commitment to the area, both 
his wife Paula and his daughter Jennifer have served as teachers in 
Hernando County. The Pastor himself ran for Hernando County School 
Board and that is where I first met him.
  In addition to this service, Pastor Drankwalter and his wife Paula 
have been very involved in local church and civic organizations, 
including the Brooksville Ministerial Association, the Hernando County 
Youth Association, the Brooksville Kiwanis Club, and served on the 
Board of Directors of the Committee Against Assaults on Law Enforcement 
Officers.
  For nearly 37 years, Pastor Drankwalter has tended to the needs of 
his congregation. As a part of his ministry, he has gone above and 
beyond the call of duty to help families seeking guidance and support. 
On one occasion the Pastor dropped everything and drove to an area 
hospital to pray with a family following their father's stroke, even 
though they were not members of his congregation. His career has been 
built on working for Christ, not blindly following denominations and 
labels.
  Madam Speaker, Pastor Drankwalter's dedication to the Lord and to the 
Lutheran Church has served as an inspiration to thousands throughout 
Hernando County. His ministry has touched the hearts of many, and the 
Church has continued to grow under his leadership. Pastor Drankwalter 
is to be commended for his years of service, his commitment to the 
Lord, and for serving the men and women who rely on his counsel and 
wisdom. Pastor Drankwalter is a shining example of the good that 
serving Jesus Christ can bring to our friends and families, and he will 
be sorely missed by the entire community.

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