The Senate’s chaplain, retired Admiral Barry C. Black (a minister of the Seventh Day Adventist church), deserves some credit for the debt deal President Obama and congressional leaders reached Sunday night following his prayers which turned more zealous as the chamber slid closer to a national default.

“The waters are coming in upon us,” The Washington Post quoted Black’s Sunday morning prayer as saying. “We are weary from the struggle, tempted to throw in the towel. But quitting isn’t an option.”

Hours later came President Obama’s announcement, boosting markets around the world: “The leaders of both parties, in both chambers, have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid default.” A major adversity was averted.

Back on July 20, the 64-year-old chaplain was speaking only in hopeful generalities, the daily noted. Beginning the session with a prayer, the former Chief of Navy Chaplains asked God to “give to our lawmakers the wisdom to know the role they should play, in keeping freedom’s holy light bright.”

Six days later, the status quo remained, Black asked more help for the lawmakers. “Keep them,” he prayed, “from the pit of disunity and discord. And empower them to build bridges of cooperation. Give them the courage and humility to do what is right, knowing that you are the only constituent they absolutely must please.”

The 62nd Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, Black became the first African-American and the first Seventh-day Adventist ever elected to hold this position in June 2003. And part of his job has been to open Senate sessions with a brief prayer

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