Tom Tucker, senior pastor of Sisk Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Mill, gave the opening prayer for the April 22 session of the United States House of Representatives.

The tradition of ministers praying to open House sessions dates to 1774, when the first prayer was given by the Rev. Jacob Duche of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pa.

“I am honored to have been chosen to be one of the pastors to deliver a prayer for the House,” said Tucker. “I am grateful to represent my Lord, Sisk Memorial Baptist Church and South Carolina Baptists.”

Tucker serves as first vice president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, and is a devotional speaker for the Billy Graham Evangelical Association offices in Charlotte, NC.

Tucker’s prayer can be read at http://chaplain.house.gov/archive/index.html?id=2230.