Gwinnett Daily Post

ATLANTA -- Pastor Kevin Myers often prays for wisdom and blessings at his Lawrenceville church.

But Monday, Myers asked for God's guidance for an audience that could soon decide the future of the state.

The 12 Stone Church senior pastor opened the 2012 session of the state Senate Monday with a prayer for wisdom and humility.

"I would be honored to pray for God's favor over each of you ... for the whole assembly as we open a new year, for the character, the courage, the wisdom to keep promises amidst great pressure," Myers, said reading from the Book of Psalms.

In presenting the opening devotional of the General Assembly -- an honor usually reserved for the pastor of the lieutenant governor -- Myers talked about a person familiar to his 10,000-member Lawrenceville church, his 8-year-old son Jadon.

"At 8, he's learned that the world is held together by keeping a promise," he said, calling on politicians to protect the public trust.

"You've made promises to the people of Georgia, even the kids of this great state have their future depending in part on you keeping promises," he told the lawmakers. "... It's 2012, a new year to make a difference and to make good on promises."

Myers said he had no problems setting aside politics to minister to a body full of it.

"My role is to represent God's place in politics and our need for his wisdom to deal with complex issues," he said.

Myers's youngest son did not attend Monday's session -- although 17-year-old Jake was in the audience -- but his dad said he earned another $3 for making another sermon anecdote.