In the Press

Annual Prayer Breakfast A Success
October 2004 Lacamas Life Magazine
by Stewart A. Kent

Clark County's Third Annual Mayors' and Community Leaders' Prayer Breakfast was held Tuesday, September 14th. This year's event was at the Red Lion at the Quay with 300 people in attendance.

It started with the Presentation of the Colors by the American Legion Color Guard accompanied by the Fort Vancouver Pipe Band who provided the unique sounds that only Scottish Bag Pipes can offer. The Honorable Royce Pollard, Vancouver's Mayor who had been selected as the Host Mayor, greeted those in attendance. Four other Mayors with spouses representing various cities in Clark County were honored. Carney Laine, Pastor of Cascade Community Church, George Golden representing the Messianic Jewish Community, Richard Twiss of Wiconi International representing Native American Ministries and Father John Ludvik of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church offered prayers.

Rebecca Harder was this year's testimonial speaker. Rebecca is a Clark County resident and small business owner, she just finished as 4th runner-up in the United Nation Pageant held in Hollywood, California representing our state as Mrs. Washington. In a moving presentation, she described how her life was drastically changed from being a very successful Corporate Regional Manager for Kraft Foods to one who was immobilized over a three year period because of a brain infection and how with the help of her husband overcame the obstacles and now has a whole new career and a strong walk with Jesus Christ.

The featured speaker was Jeff Kemp, former NFL Quarterback and now executive Director of Families Northwest. Based in the Seattle area, Families Northwest advances the Northwest Marriage & Family Movement, a cultural campaign aimed at increasing the rate of marriage success, enhancing family health and turning the tide on family breakdown so more children are raised in nurturing homes by their married mother and father. Jeff shared his 11 years as an NFL Quarterback playing in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Philadelphia and how that career abruptly ended. He was given a new career direction and talked about his vision of promoting relationships that last, of love and hope and how people perish without it. He expressed how important it is to put your life in God's hands and to follow God's direction. This is the message he emphasizes as he broadcasts on 53 radio stations daily with his "Family Matters" program.

The theme for this year's Breakfast was "Goals Are Obtainable" and the Master of Ceremonies was Ralph Stevens, VP of The Bank of Clark County. Rey Reynolds of the Vancouver Police Department sang the National Anthem. An unexpected but welcome guest, Tim Durr, home from Iraq for 2 weeks was given a standing ovation as he represented our military throughout the world.

The Prayer Breakfast is overseen by a group of local business, civic and religious leaders. The committee is composed of volunteers and the program is sponsored by Clark County Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship. FGBMFI is a nondenominational organization of Christian laymen linked in a spiritual community of more than 4,000 chapters worldwide. All monies collected are kept in a seperate account and used only for the local Prayer Breakfast. No City or County funds are involved. This year, eighteen local Corporate Sponsors provided funding or services to supplement ticket sales for this successful event.