[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING PASTOR MAC HAMMOND

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, it is my great honor to welcome this 
morning's guest chaplain, Pastor Mac Hammond. Pastor Hammond and his 
wife, Pastor Lynne, who is with us in the gallery, are pastors of the 
Living Word Christian Center, a vibrant church in the Third 
Congressional District located in Brooklyn Park, MN.
  This is an incredible story. On November 12, 1980, Mac and Lynne 
Hammond stood before a gathering of 12 people in a small meeting room 
at a hotel in Plymouth, Minnesota. On that day, Living Word Christian 
Center was born. Today, 25 years later, Living Word has grown to an 
active congregation of more than 10,000 members.
  Pastor Mac Hammond's inspiring life has spanned several careers, from 
Air Force captain, where he served as a pilot, to owner of an air cargo 
business, to gifted minister of the gospel. The people of our area, of 
our State are so grateful for Pastor Mac Hammond and his ministry to 
the community.
  The Living Word Christian Center is home to a number of important 
ministries that are truly doing the Lord's work here on Earth. Close to 
my heart, the Living Free Recovery Services program provides treatment 
to families struggling with the ravages of drug and alcohol addiction. 
Living Word also operates Maranatha Christian Academy and Maranatha 
College, two highly respected, God-centered academic institutions in 
our area.
  The church's Compassion Center ministers to inner-city residents, and 
CFAITH provides online missionary outreach.
  We are all very grateful, Madam Speaker, for these wonderful 
ministries and for the faith, hope, and love brought to so many by 
Pastors Mac and Lynne Hammond. As you heard in his moving prayer, 
Pastor Hammond is a tremendously gifted speaker and a true man of God.
  I knew Mac would offer a truly inspirational prayer this morning, and 
God knows we needed it. Many thanks, Pastor Hammond, for your moving 
and thoughtful prayer and for serving the House of Representatives as 
our guest chaplain.

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