[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E529-E530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2018

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of 
the Congressional Prayer Breakfast.
  Prior to its origination, many residents of Illinois had attended 
what was then called the St. Louis Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. I was 
invited myself to attend by Gary Tedrick, a local businessman who was 
involved with the sponsoring organization--CBMC.
  We then discussed hosting an Illinois version to be called the 
Congressional Prayer Breakfast. Upon conferring with Congressman Jerry 
Costello (D, Belleville), we agreed this would be a good thing to do. 
It would remind us of our common faith and that there is more that 
unites us than divides us. We ended up co-hosting the event for 14 
years.
  Gary led the formation of the breakfast along with the help of David 
Stevenson, Mark Repking, Ted Prehn, and Stan Bower from the St. Louis 
chapter of CBMC, and Gary continues to lead it with the help of dozens 
of volunteers. People such as Bob Plummer and Scott Adams are original 
sponsors from the very beginning.
  We have heard from a wide range of speakers over the years, who tell 
their stories of the trials of life and faith, but all of them have had 
the same common belief in Jesus Christ.

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  I want to thank former Congressmen Jerry Costello and Bill Enyart for 
co-hosting, as well as my current co-hosts, Congressmen Rodney Davis 
and Mike Bost. I also want to thank Steve Jankowski, who has served as 
our emcee for all 20 years.
  I want to thank the current steering committee members: Scott Adams, 
Mike Baese, George Weber, Dick Bold, Julie Lading, Bob Plummer, Larry 
Absheer, Gary Tedrick, Tony Kalinowski, David Stevenson, Tracy 
Bodenbach, Eric McRoy, and David Wiegand. In addition, I want to thank 
Bott Radio for broadcasting the breakfast for several years now.
  I want to thank R.P. Lumber in Edwardsville, Answer Midwest in Alton, 
and Larry's Hairy Business in Fairview Heights for hosting weekly 
discussion groups.
  My involvement in reaching the 20 year milestone for the 
Congressional Prayer Breakfast has been limited, and it would not have 
happened without the dedication of Gary and his team and the hundreds 
of attendees each year.

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