[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 154 (Thursday, October 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING REVEREND DR. JOHNNY TILLER FOR SEVENTY YEARS OF PREACHING THE 
                         GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

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                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 22, 2009

  Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Dr. Johnny 
Tiller, who celebrated his 70th anniversary of preaching the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ on September 10, 2009. Reverend Tiller has dedicated his 
life to this work, and has pledged that he will continue to do so until 
God calls him home to heaven.
  Reverend Tiller has spent his life preaching and ministering to the 
needs of those in western North Carolina. At the young age of 12, 
Reverend Tiller preached his first sermon at a cottage prayer meeting. 
In November of 1944, at only 18 years of age, Reverend Tiller became 
the first full-time pastor of Starnes Cove Baptist Church, in 
Asheville, North Carolina.
  In November of 1993, after serving as a full-time pastor of four 
different churches over 49 years, Reverend Tiller retired from full-
time ministry. Since retirement, he has served as interim pastor for 
six different churches and currently serves at Sunrise Baptist Church 
in Asheville, North Carolina. He also has taught New Testament courses 
at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute for the past 16 years. Reverend 
Tiller has preached on many radio stations, and has held numerous 
revivals and Bible study courses across the United States and around 
the world.
  Madam Speaker, Reverend Dr. Johnny Tiller has done an exemplary 
service for the people of western North Carolina and throughout the 
world during his 70 years of ministry. His dedication and honorable 
commitment to serving God is truly a source of pride to western North 
Carolina. I urge my colleagues to join me today in honoring Reverend 
Tiller for his contributions to spreading God's word.

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