Jeff Flake: “I leave the Congress because the Lord has blessed me to build a wonderful church community in Jamaica, Queens, NY, with…”

“I leave the Congress because the Lord has blessed me to build a wonderful church community in Jamaica, Queens, NY, with over 9,000 members in that church now and a myriad of community development programs, over 800 employees. It is impossible for me to maintain both my church responsibilities and the responsibilities of this Congress. I was called at 15 to preach, and I was pastoring by the time I was 19. I am 52 now, so I know what my calling is, and though I leave this place with some regret, because I have been very fortunate to work with both sides of the aisle, no one any greater than the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] for the last 3 years. I certainly do appreciate the kind of respect that we have had for each other and the kind of work that we have been able to do.”