Welcoming Reverend Dr. Lindsay Curtis

Floor Speech

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Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, on this consequential day, when this body is likely to make law and debate critical things, it has already been a good and blessed day because our day was opened with a prayer by Reverend Dr. Lindsay Curtis.

Dr. Curtis is well into his second decade leading as senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church, a 129-year-old faith community in the center of my district, Norwalk, Connecticut.

The church has thrived under Pastor Curtis' leadership, and I admire him as a friend, as a mentor, and as a spiritual guide not just for his understanding of the Scripture, but for his deep commitment to ministry.

Dr. Curtis, over the course of his career, has served as president of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention. He has served as chairman of the Advisory Board of Directors of Norwalk ACTS, which is a partnership of civic leaders. He has acted as the president of the Norwalk NAACP, commissioner of the Judicial Selection Commission, and when he sees a problem, he uses ministry to solve it.

Just this summer, out of nowhere, he conjured up a summer camp for 150 children in Norwalk, Connecticut, who might not otherwise have a way to constructively spend their days.

I have always loved the quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. That quote is familiar to so many of you: Always preach the Gospel. Sometimes use words.

Lindsay Curtis embodies that idea in his ministry, and his superb record is blemished perhaps only by my suspicion--and it is a suspicion--that he thinks that somehow the Chicago Bulls fit into the Trinity, but above all else, our God is a forgiving God, so I am sure that that will not be a problem.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Curtis so much for opening us up today.

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