THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604240170
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
A POPULAR sports figure will be keynote speaker for the 12th annual Suffolk Leadership Prayer Breakfast, May 2, at the National Guard Armory on Godwin Boulevard.
The event is part of the National Day of Prayer. Traditionally, the speaker and musicians are not identified before the breakfast, at 7 a.m. Dr. William Jackson said the practice is to preserve the purpose of the gathering as a time of prayer.
This year's participants also will include Virginia Attorney General James Gilmore III and Suffolk Mayor S. Chris Jones. Other dignitaries will include Sen. Richard J. Holland, Sen. Frederick M. Quayle and Rep. Robert E. Nelms, along with numerous city and business leaders.
``The goal of the Leadership Prayer Breakfast is to have government and business leaders get together with others in the community to ask for God's guidance,'' Jackson said. The breakfast is sponsored by the Suffolk Fellowship, an anonymous group of local Christian leaders representing a broad spectrum of religious denominations.
``These people are interested in applying biblical principles to government and business,'' Jackson explained. ``This is a God-centered ministry that we hope will benefit the community.''
Thursday's buffet breakfast will be followed by prayers, Scripture readings, guest speakers and musicians.
In the past, every Leadership Breakfast has been a sell-out crowd for the 400-seat Armory. ``This event has always been well-received,'' Jackson said. ``The comment cards have been overwhelmingly favorable.''
Past events have led to at least three small-group Bible studies around the city. When people indicate on their comment cards that they'd like to be involved in a small group, the Prayer Breakfast committee tries to get those people together, Jackson said.
Tickets for the breakfast, $12 per person, are on sale at Chorey & Associates Realty, 804 W. Washington St. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
James Gilmore will attend the Leadership Prayer Breakfast.
by CNB