National Prayer Breakfast

National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event held on the first Thursday of February in Washington, D.C., typically attended by the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, and other high-ranking officials, including Members of Congress, such as Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell. The event is organized by The Fellowship, a Christian organization founded by Abraham Vereide, who was influenced by Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group. The National Prayer Breakfast has been attended by numerous notable figures, including Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa, as well as international leaders like Nelson Mandela and Angela Merkel.

● History

The National Prayer Breakfast has its roots in the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, established by Abraham Vereide in 1953. The first event was held on January 31, 1953, and was attended by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vice President Richard Nixon, and other prominent figures, including Billy Graham and Senator Frank Carlson. Over the years, the event has been influenced by various Christian denominations, including the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Southern Baptist Convention, and has featured speakers like Pope John Paul II and Desmond Tutu. The National Prayer Breakfast has also been associated with the Lausanne Movement, a global Christian movement founded by Billy Graham and John Stott.

● Organization

The National Prayer Breakfast is organized by The Fellowship, a Christian organization with ties to the C Street Center and the International Foundation. The event is typically held at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., and is attended by over 3,000 guests, including Members of Congress, such as John Boehner and Harry Reid, as well as international leaders like Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron. The organization of the event involves a network of Christian leaders, including Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes, who work together to plan the program and invite speakers, such as Bono and Malala Yousafzai.

● Proceedings

The National Prayer Breakfast typically begins with a breakfast meeting, followed by a series of speeches and prayers, often led by Christian leaders like Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer. The event has featured a wide range of speakers, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, as well as international figures like Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin. The proceedings often include music and worship, led by artists like Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans, and may also feature presentations by organizations like World Vision and Samaritan's Purse.

● Criticisms

The National Prayer Breakfast has faced criticism from various groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who argue that the event violates the Separation of church and state in the United States. Some critics, like Michael Newdow and Madalyn Murray O'Hair, have also accused the event of promoting a particular Christian agenda, while others, like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, have criticized the event for its perceived anti-secularism stance. Additionally, some have raised concerns about the event's ties to The Fellowship, which has been accused of promoting a theocratic agenda, as alleged by Jeff Sharlet and Rachel Maddow.

● Notable_Speakers

The National Prayer Breakfast has featured a wide range of notable speakers over the years, including Martin Luther King Jr., Billy Graham, and Mother Teresa, as well as international leaders like Nelson Mandela and Angela Merkel. Other notable speakers have included Bono, Malala Yousafzai, and Elie Wiesel, who have addressed topics like poverty, human rights, and social justice. The event has also featured speeches by Christian leaders like Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes, as well as Jewish leaders like Rabbi David Saperstein and Shimon Peres.

● International_Aspects

The National Prayer Breakfast has significant international aspects, with attendees and speakers from around the world, including Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. The event has been associated with international organizations like the World Council of Churches and the Lausanne Movement, and has featured speakers like Pope Francis and Desmond Tutu. The National Prayer Breakfast has also been linked to international initiatives like the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals, and has been attended by international leaders like Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron, as well as United Nations officials like Ban Ki-moon and António Guterres.