Reverend Bill Shuler
Capital Life Church
Arlington, VA
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Moran, (D-VA)
Date of Prayer: 02/16/2011
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. MORAN . Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Rev. Bill Shuler, who delivered this morning's invocation. He is the senior pastor of Capital Life Church in Arlington, Virginia.
He and his family moved to the Washington metropolitan area on September 1, 2001, just days before 9/11. And in response to the tragic events of 9/11, Rev. Shuler launched a prayer center near the Capitol out of which formed the Capital Life Church. He is the seventh generation in an unbroken line of ministers in the Shuler family. I think it might be interesting for the Members to know that Rev. Shuler has preached in 30 nations of the world. He served for 8 years as a university chaplain and a dean of spiritual affairs at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dr. Billy Graham recently expressed his appreciation for the "godly heritage that continues through the Shuler family." In fact, Dr. Graham's biographer said that Rev. Shuler's father, evangelist Jack Shuler, was "at least as popular as Billy Graham" during the 1940s and 1950s. And, in fact, Rev. Shuler's grandfather, Robert Shuler, was the first of the great radio preachers. He was called Fighting Bob Shuler. He pastored the famous Trinity Methodist Church in the heart of Los Angeles, California.
He is joined today by a number of congregants as well as his three lovely daughters and beautiful wife.
We thank Rev. Shuler for gracing this House with our invocation today.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Heavenly Father,
We bow our heads to worship you for you are an awesome and personal God. Make us ever mindful of the words engraved over the Speaker's chair "In God We Trust."
We place our trust not in man or in political parties or in our own strength. It is in you we trust. You are the God who founded our nation, the God who gave us liberty and it is by turning to you that we are blessed.
Guide each member of Congress by your wisdom, protect them by your hand. Refresh them in body, mind and spirit. Help them to love their families well, to serve their constituents with excellence and to strengthen our nation by their decisions.
We pray these things in the name of the one who taught us the true priorities of life when he called us to "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to us."
In Jesus' name, Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory