Doctor Laudis H. Lanford
Methodist Home for Children and Youth
Macon, GA
Sponsor: Rep. Congressman Saxby Chambliss, (R-GA)
Date of Prayer: 05/01/2001
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a privilege and a pleasure for me to have Dr. Laudis H. Lanford as the guest chaplain in the House today. My good friend, Rick Lanford , is vice president for development at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth in Macon, Georgia, where he is affectionately known as ‘‘Daddy Rick.''
Dr. Lanford is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta and Candler School of Theology, where he received a Master of Divinity, and the McCormick School of Theology, where he received a Doctor of Ministry.
Rick's love of the Lord is exhibited in his everyday life, but no place more than in his work with the 110 orphaned and abused children at the Methodist Home.
Rick has made a strong commitment to his community and his State. He is chaplain for the Macon City Police, the Bibb County, Monroe County, and Jones' County Sheriff's Department. He is also chaplain for the Georgia Sheriff's Association and serves on the Gang Awareness Task Force Committee.
Dr. Lanford changes lives of young people in our part of the State every day. I am proud to have him here today, but I am even more proud to call him my good friend.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
O Lord, My God, how majestic is Your Name in all of the earth.
Your handiwork is to be exalted and praised before the people.
How awesome you are in everything and everywhere.
Your love for us is greater than the east is from the west,
yes greater than the number of stars in the sky
and grains of sand along our shores.
Humble us this day, O God, that we might pause and recognize
who you are within our lives and reflect upon the bountiful
blessings that you bestow upon us.
Forgive us when we have failed to be obedient to You, both in word
and deed. Forgive us when we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, O God, when we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves, and free us for joyful obedience to You and service to others.
And like Jabez, we call upon You, the God of Israel, saying, O that thou wouldest blest us indeed, and enlarge our coast, and that thine hand might be with us and that thou wouldest keep us from evil and that it may not grieve us. Grant, O God, that which we humbly request.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory