National Prayer breakfast scheduled for Feb. 14

HOLLOMAN AFB, N.M. -- The 49th Fighter Wing Chapel staff invites all Holloman and German Air Force Airmen and civilians to attend the Holloman National Prayer Breakfast, 7 a.m., Feb. 14, at the Oasis Club.

The National Prayer Breakfast began in 1942 when various Congress members began holding weekly prayer meetings to show concern for America's involvement in World War II.

In 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower initiated the first Presidential Prayer Breakfast. The name of the event was changed to the National Prayer Breakfast in 1970.
While the National Prayer Breakfast presents an opportunity for people to gather and recognize individual faiths, the doors are also opened to those not claiming any particular religion or belief.

According to Chap. (Lt. Col.) Timothy Wagoner, 49 FW chaplain, non-believers may also have much to gain from the experience.

"This type of event proves we can sit down and break bread with someone different than ourselves with respect and acceptance," he said. "Our common humanity binds us together regardless of faith."

Along with promoting fellowship, the prayer breakfast provides a chance for attendees to pray for national leaders.

"Some of us pray for our country and leaders every day, of course, but the idea of setting a specific day aside gives us the chance to say to ourselves 'this is important - we should do this every day," said Chaplain Wagoner.

Chap. (Capt.) Paul Joyner, 49 FW protestant chaplain, will serve as Master of Ceremonies and is scheduled to open the event with a few words of welcome before attendants are given the opportunity to partake in a buffet-style breakfast.

The Prayer Breakfast's featured speaker will be Chaplain (Brig Gen) Cecil Richardson, USAF deputy chief of chaplains, who will expound on this year's theme of 'Lord, Guide and Guard."

"Chaplain Richardson will explore what it means to ask God to watch over us as we faithfully execute the mission," said Chaplain Joyner. "For Holloman specifically, the message will remind us that wherever we go in support of our country, there is a place for God."

Other event participants will include the Holloman Honor Guard, the Grace United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and various Holloman Airmen scheduled to conduct readings from the Torah, the Koran and the Bible.

"Those who attended last year's breakfast had nothing but good things to say about it," said Chaplain Wagoner. This says a lot about the quality of the program we try to provide."

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased from any Holloman first sergeant or at the Base Chapel until Feb 12.