The 3rd Annual Burlington Leadership Prayer Breakfast

Thursday, 16 April 2009
Starting at 06: 45 am
Burlington Convention Centre
1120 Burloak Drive, Burlington
Hot Buffet at 6:45 am
Program begins at 7:15 am

This year’s speaker is Preston Manning.

Manning calls on churches to heed history.

If history is any indicator, the current economic crisis will see many people questioning their priorities, including taking a deeper look at spiritual matters, according to Canadian political statesman Preston Manning, who spoke to nearly 600 guests at the Burlington Leadership Prayer Breakfast on April 16.

The challenge facing the church and individual Christians, he said, is to understand and provide the spiritual resources that people need to cope with the economic climate. Pointing to the spiritual revivals and the social justice movement born during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Manning called on Christians to “take seriously Jesus’ teaching to love God and to love your neighbour.

“The distinguishing characteristics of the Christian faith are the vertical relationship that we have with God, and the horizontal relationship of justice and mercy that God wants us to show to all humans,” said Manning.

“When you have the horizontal in balance with the vertical, what you have is the cross – the ultimate Christian symbol of being faithful to God through sacrificial service to others.”

As the turbulent economic situation prompts people to examine spiritual matters, Manning said the first step is to simply acknowledge the existence of a loving Supreme Being who has our best interests at heart. “People must then decide,” he said. “Many will turn to God, and many will turn away, but either way they need to make a decision.”

In a society that faces tremendous spiritual and material needs, Manning said that Christians must be prepared to share how they find comfort in their beliefs and to share their financial and material resources with those who are in need.

In addition to welcoming remarks from Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson, and music by Christian singers/songwriters Colleen and Grace, the third annual prayer breakfast included a prayer by former Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale, asking for wisdom for those who provide leadership at all levels and in all capacities, and safety for those who serve and protect the community.

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