Commentary - National Prayer Breakfast: Finding common ground for fellowship and prayer Published Feb. 15, 2011 By Chaplain (Capt.) Glen Harris Nellis Chapel NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The National Prayer Breakfast will take place Feb. 23 at 7 a.m. at the Nellis Club. The National Prayer Breakfast is an opportunity for Americans of all faiths to gather together, break bread in fellowship, and pray for themselves, our leadership and our nation. While many of us have the opportunity to pray for these things during our regular worship services in our own respective faith traditions, the National Prayer Breakfast is different. It is an opportunity to share this fellowship and prayer with a wider circle of individuals who reflect a greater cross-section of society. On our regular Sabbath, or holy day, we pray and worship using the language and symbols unique to our own faith tradition. At the National Prayer Breakfast, we strive to find a common language of prayer and a broader symbol set that allows us to pray together with Americans of faiths different from our own. This does not negate the regular holy day worship; rather, it gives us all an opportunity to experience a unique and special occasion. The National Prayer Breakfast is a tradition that dates back to the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. President Eisenhower would join with members of his cabinet and the legislature, as well as his friends, to pray for the nation. Since then, it has been customary for the sitting president to do likewise each year. Over time, various departments within the executive branch of the federal government began holding their own prayer breakfasts or luncheons. Within the Department of Defense, it is common for a National Prayer Breakfast to be held on most military facilities, both in the United States and abroad. At this year's breakfast, the featured speaker will be Tommy Lasorda. During his extraordinary 20-year career as the Los Angeles Dodgers' manager, Mr. Lasorda compiled a 1,599-1,439 record and won two World Championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles. He ranks 17th with 1,599 wins and 16th with 3,038 games managed in Major League history. For these achievements, he was inducted into the hallowed Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. This year, Mr. Lasorda begins his 62nd season in the Dodger organization as special advisor to the chairman. In this position, he acts as an advisor and ambassador for the Dodgers' international affiliations, and represents the franchise at more than 100 speaking engagements and appearances to various charities, private groups and military personnel each year. He has spoken to troops at more than 40 military bases around the world, including a five-country goodwill tour last summer with Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Many regard Mr. Lasorda as baseball's most popular ambassador. Tickets to the National Prayer Breakfast cost $5.00 for all personnel and can be purchased from your first sergeant, your unit chaplain or at the Nellis Chapel on weekdays until Feb. 18. For more information, contact the Nellis Chapel at 652-2950.
