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A prayer before breakfast |
By Laurent
Bonczijk,
Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail Laurent at
lbonczijk@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Nearly 400 people
representing more than a dozen churches showed up Sunday for the
21st annual Mayors’ breakfast. The event had George Fox University’s
dining hall full for nearly two hours.
The guest speaker this year was outgoing GFU president David
Brandt. While diners enjoyed bacon, eggs, pastries and fruits served
on gold-rimmed china, Brandt expounded on what drew the participants
together rather than what set them apart.
Brandt, quoting from
Jeremiah’s letter to the Babylonians, said that if Christians work
to make their city a stronger, richer place, they could only benefit
from it themselves.
Brandt opened up by saying that although 400 people were in the
room that morning, 19,600 were not. “We are a large group,” he said,
“but hardly a majority.” After all, he joked, isn’t Saturday for
mowing the lawn and changing the oil?
Brandt pointed out the presence of several elected officials,
County Commissioners Leslie Lewis and Kathy George, and District
Attorney Brad Berry, among others. Even though there is a strict
separation between church and state in this country, “and I am very
much in favor of that,” Brandt said, there is a place for Christians
to pray for their elected officials.
Referring to the diversity of churches present Sunday, he said:
“Indeed we can cut across certain lines to come together because we
worship the same God.”
Brandt then considered the role of prayer in everyday life. Citing
the Rev. Thomas Doyle of The University of Portland, Brandt said he
wished he had prayed for every hour he had worried. He advocated
replacing worrying and complaining with the action of praying.
“Pointing is not a strategy,” he said.
For those who might wonder how to pray better, Brandt offered words
of wisdom via Mother Theresa: “If you want to pray better, pray
more.” Brandt ended his comments with the Lord’s prayer.
A praise group from South Side Community Church, Newberg Foursquare
Church and GodSong Community Church provided music before the
breakfast.
Newberg Mayor Bob Andrews was the first to offer comments after
breakfast was served.
Brandt, who will move to Pennsylvania in July, has been named
president emeritus. Campus pastor Sarah Baldwin joked that it
entitled him to carry a GFU business card and receive a 10 percent
discount at the university bookstore.
Pastor Steve Estrem of Zion Lutheran Church guided the final
benediction. |
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From
May 16, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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