Freeman prays ‘in the name of Jesus’ in D.C. ceremony
- Dec 17, 2007 - 4 -
{REL[4434][photo]yBVfYm8dREL}CLARKSVILLE — Early in his life, Roger Freeman made a promise that he would never deny God’s name.
So, when he was first approached by the National Park Service about praying at the lighting of the national Christmas tree on Dec. 6, Freeman, pastor of First Baptist Church here and a past president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, said he would have to be able to pray in the name of Jesus.
Officials from the park service told him to write out a prayer and send it to them, Freeman recalled, noting the process began in September.
Freeman worked for about half a day on a prayer that had to be delivered in one minute.
He penned the following words and sent it in for review:
“Holy Father, thank you for this season of brotherhood and hope for all humanity. We celebrate the beauty of your creation and the light you give, even in the lighting of our national Christmas tree. We rejoice in the happiness of people who care for one another and share love for every person.
“Bless all our military who serve to protect us and to honor our country. Encourage and strengthen each military family member who bears the extra burden of sacrifice. Guide and bless our president, Mrs. Bush and their family, and all our nation’s leaders. May your love be felt in all the nations of the world.
“Thank you for the timeless announcement of this season which is given to all peoples, ‘peace on earth, good will to all.’ May this promise unite all your children. In the name of Jesus, who gave us the first Christmas. Amen.”
“I didn’t really expect to hear from them,” Freeman admitted.
But three days later he was notified that he was approved to deliver the prayer he submitted.
Freeman was nominated to deliver the prayer by Amy Spiceland Scofield, who was a teenager at FBC when Freeman went there as pastor 14 and one-half years ago.
Scofield now works with the National Park Service.
Freeman said her remembrance of him is a reminder that “when you preach to teenagers you do not know what they will do with their influence in the years ahead.
“She loved her church and her pastor and she did such a good job that when she suggested a name, they listened,” Freeman said
To Freeman’s knowledge he is the first Baptist pastor to deliver the invocation at the ceremony in recent years.
Freeman admitted to being nervous about praying at the national ceremony. “It was the first time I ever practiced a prayer. I said it over and over,” he laughed.
He recalled that he was nervous as he advanced toward the platform, “but once I went out there the Lord took over and the fear went away.”
A highlight of the occasion was the opportunity to stand with President Bush on the platform as the band played “Hail to the Chief.”
“At that moment I realized I was representing the Lord who was over all authority, all kings, all nations,” Freeman said. “I shed a tear after I realized God allowed me to have a part in that.”
Freeman also was impressed that President Bush began his remarks, “Tonight we celebrate the good news that in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago a Savior was born.”
“That was commendable,” Freeman said.
Freeman still is not quite sure why he was selected. He thinks part of the reason is that he hails from a military town (Fort Campbell), and he was honored to have represented Fort Campbell, the city of Clarksville, and his church
“It wasn’t about me. It was about the city and First Baptist Church,” he stressed.
Freeman also believes very strongly that he was chosen because God wanted His name honored at the Capitol.
“God gave me favor for some reason. I’m thankful to God for the privilege. It was an incredible blessing,” Freeman said.
While he considers the experience to be a blessing and honor, he is adamant that the greatest honor he has is to be the pastor of a Baptist church. “When all is said and done, strong churches and strong families make a strong nation.
“My only ambition is to please the Lord Jesus and to be the pastor of a Baptist church.”
Freeman was accompanied on the trip by his wife Priscilla and daughter Sarah.
President Calvin Coolidge started the national Christmas tree tradition in 1923 with the lighting of a 60-foot-tall “Community Christmas Tree.”
In 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill lit the tree together, but the next three years the ceremony took a hiatus due to a war-imposed blackout. In 1963 the assassination of President John F. Kennedy launched a 30-day period of national mourning, delaying the lighting of the tree until Dec. 22.
The current tree is a 40-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce that was planted in 1978. It was brought to Washington from York, Pa. The ceremony takes place in an area known as the Ellipse, south of the White House.
“I just always thought it was a terrific ceremony that recognized Christmas as a national holiday as well as a Christian holiday and felt like it was the beginning of the Christmas season in America,” Freeman said before actually participating in the event.
Performing at this year’s ceremony were country music artist Sara Evans, classical artist Holly Stell, singer/actor Julian Ivey, the St. Albans and National Cathedral Schools Choir, and the United States Air Force Band.
This article is reprinted from the December 12, 2007, issue of Baptist & Reflector, the newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Michael Foust of Baptist Press contributed to this report.
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1 On Dec 19th, 2007, at 5:38pm, Elaine Hawkins wrote:
I am grateful that God moved in the hearts and lives of His people in this magnificent and miraculous country, in such a way that the NAME OF THE SAVIOR was lauded at the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree. God bless Pastor Freeman for his decision! Christ is our GIFT, our AUTHORITY, our COMFORT, our HOPE. May His name be glorified in every corner of America! And, may His people never cower in the face of opposition to Christ, the Lord!
2 On Dec 19th, 2007, at 6:07pm, Ron Welch wrote:
I praise almighty God our creator, who gave us his son to assure our salvation, that we live in a country that still has freedom of speech and allowed pastor Freeman to pray in the name of our Lord. Thank you Bro. Freeman for your steadfast faith and willingness to stand up for what you know is true, at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. I thank God also for a President who is willing to do the same. May God bless America and our troops.
3 On Dec 19th, 2007, at 6:54pm, Richard Landess wrote:
Thank God for pastors like Rev.Freeman who are willing to stand up for what they believe. It certainly was a great honor to be chosen and many would have been so caught up in the honor as to lessen their standards in order to do it, but he was just the opposite, willing to give up the honor for himself unless he could honor his Lord. We need more men of God like that.
4 On Dec 19th, 2007, at 7:51pm, Jay Cunningham wrote:
This is an awesome story. In our Church at WCBC Conroe Texas, we have started several prayer groups that are calling on God’s children to unite and for God to fill us with His spirit. We want revival and I honestly believe that it is coming. So I love reading stories such as this because it makes me feel as though we are everywhere and we can be strong with the Lord’s power. (If we will only pray)
Thanks,
Jay Cunningham