[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING JOHN AND GWEN SLOOP

                                  _____
                                 

                     HON. C. A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Dr. 
John and Mrs. Gwen Sloop on the occasion of their retirement after 27 
years of devoted service to First Presbyterian Church.
  As senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Harrisonburg, 
Virginia, Dr. Sloop is a true spiritual leader dedicated to his flock. 
A powerful preacher, he is a man ``on fire'' for Jesus. He has been a 
champion for global missions and has lead dozens of others to follow 
him into the missionary field. He has been actively involved in 
Presbyterians for Renewal, the Presbyterian Coalition, the Confessing 
Church movement and has served on the board of the Presbyterian 
Outreach Foundation.
  Mrs. Sloop has earned a reputation for her selflessness and kindness, 
routinely demonstrated by her outstanding work with children. Along 
with her husband, she attended Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston before 
transferring to Columbia Seminary in Atlanta, graduating in 1973. For 
13 years they served the growing congregation of the Lithonia 
Presbyterian Church in the suburbs of Atlanta.
  The Sloops are passionate about seeing the Presbyterian Church 
renewed and growing again. Under their stewardship, First Presbyterian 
has grown to more than 1,100 members and more than 500 attendees for 
Sunday services since they were called there in 1986. They are loving 
parents to three children and devoted grandparents to five 
grandchildren.
  I have had the privilege of attending First Presbyterian Church under 
the direction of Dr. and Mrs. Sloop. I know them to be dearly beloved 
by the entire congregation. Though they will be truly missed, we know 
they will continue to inspire many more followers, just as they have 
inspired my family and me.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to recognize Dr. and 
Mrs. Sloop. Their generosity and commitment to leaving this world 
better than they found it is an inspiration to us all and deserving of 
the utmost gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate them 
on their retirement and wish them continued success and happiness in 
the next chapter of their lives together.

                          ____________________