In one of the unique gatherings characteristic of Chattanooga, 1,500 local citizens met at the Convention Center on Monday at daybreak for our community’s 32nd annual Leadership Prayer Breakfast. It continued one of our community’s finest traditions with real meaning.
Such occasions don’t “just happen.” It takes lots of volunteer community work and cooperation to make such events take place.
Charles Monroe was chairman, assisted by Vice Chairmen Judge Clarence Shattuck, Jackson Wingfield, Tom Francescon and Lee Atchley, with Henry Henegar and Jim Ruane also working with the vigorous committee.
The featured speaker was Dr. David Barton, who heads a national pro-family organization, WallBuilders. He presented a colorful, fast-paced history of our great nation and its religious freedom.
After Chamber of Commerce President Tom Edd Wilson welcomed the big crowd, Donald Jackson presented an Old Testament reading and Dr. Jim Scales followed with a New Testament reading. John Zeiser led prayer for our national and state leaders, and David Parker led prayer for our city and county leaders.
Our national colors were placed by “Mike” Battery of the Marines, with invocation by Mrs. Stacie Caraway and a duet by Christine and Darrin Hassevoort.
Dr. Barton reminded us of America’s unique history of freedom, our Christian heritage, and the amazing fact that just 4 percent of the people of our world live in this nation of freedom but that it possesses 25 percent of the world’s material blessings. Dr. Barton called it “American exceptionalism.”
In noting our unusual good fortune, he offered the challenge for us to remember our Christian heritage — with gratitude.
Chattanooga is a wonderful community of fine people in a land that is blessedly free. The annual prayer breakfast provided a formal opportunity for us to give thanks to God, “from Whom all blessings flow.”