[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 963-964]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATING REV. GREGORY NELSON DAVIS ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE L. BRALEY

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2013

  Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, for the past 34 years, Rev. Gregory 
Nelson Davis has been a familiar figure in Johnston, Iowa. This month 
marks a bittersweet occasion: it is Rev. Davis' last month of work for 
the St. James Lutheran Church before he steps down as its pastor.
  Joining the ministry was not Davis' first goal in life, but he 
attributes his career to the love he has for his congregation. After 
studying philosophy as an undergraduate, Davis decided to continue his 
education by getting a Master's Degree in Philosophy. He then decided 
to attend seminary, because he wanted to make a difference in people's 
lives every day.
  For the past 28 years, Davis has been the pastor at St. James 
Lutheran Church, and has doubled its congregation since he started 
preaching there.
  It is fitting that he now wants to focus on his own family after 
giving so much of his life to

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others. Once he steps down from the pulpit he is excited at the 
prospect of spending more time as a husband and as a grandfather to his 
two grandchildren.
  Rev. Davis will give his last sermon on February 17th. I thank him 
for his years of hard work guiding people in the right direction and 
wish him the best in his retirement.

                          ____________________