WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) recommended Pastor Darin Wood of The First Baptist Church of Midland to serve as a Guest Chaplain and deliver a morning prayer to open the official proceedings on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Pfluger also had the opportunity to honor Pastor Wood on the U.S. House Floor for his service to the Permian Basin.

“Pastor Wood's leadership and stalwart faith inspire our entire community,” said Congressman Pfluger. “He is a personal mentor to me and has been a great source of wisdom and strength throughout my years in Congress. He delivers a message of hope—that through our faith, we can rest in the knowledge that God is in control.”

Watch Pastor Wood's prayer on the House Floor below, or read a transcript as written below:

Most Gracious and loving God,

As we gather in this solemn space, we pause to thank you for your kindness, your mercy, your blessings, and most of all your wisdom, especially this election season.

With humility, we ask for your wisdom, your discernment, in these proceedings today and every day in this the People's House.

We remember our time here is brief, just like Jesus said in Matthew 6, we're only here for a moment.

So like the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin, let us embrace the season you have given us for service to you and the people of this great land.

Grant us your mercy today to remember we are just servants serving you and the people we represent. Allow us to know your peace in this challenging time.

Finally, we pray for strength like Moses or the Apostle Peter, and most of all, like Jesus.

Let us be led faithfully by you to lead others.

In your powerful name, we pray, amen.

Watch Congressman Pfluger's remarks below, or read a transcript as written below:

M. Speaker

I rise today to recognize Pastor Darin Wood of the First Baptist Church of Midland, who will be opening the House Floor in prayer tomorrow.

Pastor Wood grew up in Joshua, Texas, and started his career in pastoral ministry in 1999. The Wood family later moved to the Permian Basin and started preaching at First Baptist Church of Midland in February of 2016. His leadership inspires our community to do better and be kinder.

He is no stranger to lending a hand to others and has opened his congregation’s doors to the public during times of need.

In his own words, “You may enjoy the title of ‘pastor’ but truthfully it is an earned role, won bit by bit.”

Joining him are his wife Julie and son Joshua.

Thank you, Pastor Wood, for your leadership, service, and compassion to our community for the last 8 years. You and your family are truly a blessing to all of us.

If you live in Midland, the Permian Basin, Midland, or Odessa, you know Pastor Darin Wood, you know the inspiration that he brings to the community.

Not only is he a voice of reason and of wisdom, but he also urges discernment, and he has personally helped me since I've been here.

In fact, just recently, he was telling me about his study on Ezra and Esther and Nehemiah, and talking about the stories of the Old Testament and how they apply to us today.

If you live in Midland, you know how inspirational he truly is, and I want to tell you that he's been inspirational to me and so many others around Washington, D.C. as he prays for us continuously.

I think our country needs prayer right now. Pastor, thank you for what you do, to serve the Permian Basin, to serve First Baptist, to serve so many people, and thank you for your inspiration, your education, and your prayers for me and so many other leaders.

I yield back.