Sutherland Leads Prayer In Alabama Senate

Brother John Sutherland led the opening prayer before the Alabama State Senate last Thursday, March 20th. Sutherland represented Rainbow Omega in Eastaboga.

Sutherland was there at the invitation of Senator Lance Bell (AL-11). Sen. Bell said on Facebook that:

“I was visiting Rainbow Omega several months ago and heard John praying. I knew then that he needed to come to Montgomery and open the Alabama Senate in prayer. Yesterday was a great day for all of us in the Senate, as John opened up with the most unbelievable prayer!!! First time I have ever heard applause after the prayer. Thank you, John, and Roll Tide my friend.”

ALPolitics.com reached out to Rainbow Omega following Sutherland’s Senate appearance

"Rainbow Omega is blessed to serve amazing individuals, and John is a great example of the people who reside in our community,” CEO Tim Hodge said. “He was so very honored and humbled to have been asked by Senator Lance Bell to open the Senate session with a prayer, and John's kind heart, sense of citizenship and love of God was displayed through his words." 

Founded in 1995 by Stentson and Dianne Carpenter, this year marks Rainbow Omega’s  30th year of serving adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities. The mission has grown from serving 16 individuals in 1995 to more than 88 currently.

Rainbow Omega has a simple mission—to glorify God by ensuring that adults with developmental disabilities have a safe home where their abilities and potentials are respected and nurtured in a Christian environment. 

Rainbow Omega offers vocational opportunities to individuals they serve. Their horticulture program is widely-known for the quality plants grown—in particular are ferns, mums and poinsettias.  Rainbow Omega has 11 greenhouses and a beautiful hill of blueberry bushes that annually yield thousands of blueberries which are available for people to pick to purchase or purchase at Rainbow Omega Garden & Gift Shop. 

Rainbow Omega also does work for Honda and Neptune Technology Group.  The work done for Honda has earned the prestigious Honda Excellence in Quality and Delivery Award for 2022 and 2023.

In addition to their horticulture offerings, Rainbow Omega holds a number of events throughout the year. Their next event will be the Tackle the Hills Challenge Walk for Autism Awareness on Saturday. April 26.

To learn more about Rainbow Omega or register for the Tackle the Hills Challenge Walk, visit their website at RainbowOmega.org. Sponsorships for the Tackle the Hills Challenge Walk are available.