[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14368]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING PASTOR BILL RICKETTS OF THE PRINCE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

  (Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition 
of Pastor Bill Ricketts, who has faithfully served the Lord for 43 
years at Prince Avenue Baptist Church, a treasure in the 10th District 
of Georgia. He has been in ministry since 19 years of age and has lived 
in accordance with the Word of God and in the service of others.
  Under his leadership, the church has literally flourished and become 
a cornerstone of the Christian faith in the Athens, Georgia, community 
and far beyond just Athens. Today, literally hundreds of pastors and 
missionaries have emerged from his 43 years as pastor at Prince Avenue. 
It truly is an inspiring story, and he is leaving a legacy that 
deserves the highest recognition.
  Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Pastor Bill Ricketts on his 
retirement as senior pastor at Prince Avenue Baptist Church. I am 
extremely grateful to have such a devoted man of God in our community 
and I am sincerely grateful for his friendship and his service.
  I give my best to Pastor Bill; his wife, Darla; and his family as 
they begin this new chapter. May the spirit of God continue to bless 
the Ricketts family and the congregation at Prince Avenue Baptist 
Church.

                          ____________________