Recognizing John ``barry'' Dagenhart As An Outstanding Citizen

Floor Speech

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Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the dedicated service and call to the ministry of Dr. Barry Dagenhart who has served as a pastor for over 40 years.

Dr. Dagenhart grew up in Statesville, North Carolina, and was spiritually nurtured in the New Sterling Associate Reformed Presbyterian (A.R.P.) Church.

Graduating in 1979, he studied economics at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. He also holds a master of divinity degree and a doctor of ministry degree from Erskine Theological Seminary. While at Erskine, he met his loving wife, Sarah Lynn Richie, of Fairfield, Virginia, and they were married on June 26 of 1982.

Dr. Dagenhart had the honor and privilege of serving on various boards and agencies throughout the A.R.P. denomination. He served on the board of stewardship and A.R.P. Foundation, as well as the Erskine College and Seminary Board of Trustees. He was also blessed to serve as the vice moderator of the A.R.P. General Synod.

He currently serves on the Bonclarken Board of Trustees, the conference center for the A.R.P. denomination. In addition to his service at the Synod level, he also has served on various commissions and committees on the Presbytery level in First Presbytery, Second Presbytery, and, most recently, Catawba Presbytery where he served as moderator from 2013 to 2014.

Not only has Dr. Dagenhart generously served on various boards and committees in his community, he also enjoyed being able to use his call to the gospel ministry to impact youth, adults, and individuals with special needs at various week-long summer camps at Bonclarken located in Flat Rock, North Carolina.

Throughout his decades of ministry, Dr. Dagenhart has frequently served as camp minister for Camp Joy, a camp for those affected by physical and mental disabilities. Dr. Dagenhart's caring and generous heart is what makes him stand out as an honorable citizen and follower of Jesus Christ, sacrificing his time to help those around him.

Dr. Dagenhart has an encouraging and loving family--his wife Sarah, son Jamey, and daughter Rachel--who support him in walking his path of placing others above himself.

Dr. Barry Dagenhart has set the gold standard for decades of dedicated service and commitment to his congregation and to the community. He will long be remembered for that.

Madam Speaker, we all join in saying thank you and Godspeed in his well-deserved years of retirement.

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