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National Prayer Breakfasts

On the first Thursday of every February, a National

Prayer Breakfast is held in Washington, D.C., hosted

by weekly Bible study/prayer groups held in the U.S.

Senate and House, and attended by the U.S. President,

and about 3000 of our other national leaders and

leaders from around the world.

On February 5, 2004 U.S. General John Abizaid

opened in prayer as follows:

"Almighty and merciful God, our nation pauses

today to seek your strength, to ask for your

protection, and to reflect upon the many blessings

you have given this great land.

"We ask you to help us find the road to peace, to

guide us on this path even as we face those who

would bring war to our shores.

"We know from your prophet Isaiah that he saw a

vision of a future day when the nations of the

world would beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

"But until the coming of that great day it is right for

us to pray that you would preserve our nation and

give us courage to defend it wisely. We pray that

you give us patience in the face of adversity. We

ask that you grant us compassion for those who

seek our help to find justice and freedom.

"As we begin this National Prayer Breakfast we ask

your blessing be upon our President and his

cabinet, our Senators and Representatives in

Congress, the Governors of our States, the Mayors

of our Cities, indeed all of our leaders.

"We commend to your gracious care and keeping

our sons and daughters who so proudly serve our

armed forces. We ask that you defend and protect

them each day, that you strengthen them in their

trials, and that you give them courage to face the

perils which confront them.

"We pray for the families of our fallen heroes, and

we are reminded of your scripture, that greater

love has no one than this, than to lay down one's

life for his friends.

"For those who must fight this fight, we ask you to

give them both strength and humility to stand

honorably for the freedom you have granted all

men and women. Ultimately let the great Arabic

words, "Peace be upon you" have meaning for all

your people. Hear our prayer O God, for we pray in

your Holy Name, Amen."

President Bush spoke on the importance of prayer

and the acts of charity being done by our troops in

Iraq toward the local residents there.

Congressman John Lewis and former

Congressman J.C. Watts both spoke on the

importance of forgiveness, love and non-violent

conflict resolution, as modeled in the American

civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King

in the 1950's and 60's.

It was noted that the Israeli ambassador was in

attendance along with the ambassadors of several

Moslem nations.

The prayer meeting closed with Coach Joe Gibbs

of the Washington Redskins professional football

team giving his testimony of receiving Jesus Christ

as his personal Lord and Savior.

Text and video of President Bush's message is

available at www.whitehouse.gov (search for

National Prayer Breakfast, February 5, 2004).

NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST, FEBRUARY 3, 2005:

The speakers and prayer leaders on February 3, 2005 included President Bush, a wounded U.S. combat

veteran from the Middle East (who read Psalm 91),

and former U.S. congressman (now U.S. ambassador

to the U.N.'s Agency for Food and Development) Tony

Hall who gave the following points:

--care for the poor

--pray for our leaders

--gather in small groups to pray and study God's Word

--love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

and your neighbor as yourself.

For the text and video of President Bush's remarks: www.whitehouse.gov search for National Prayer

Breakfast 2/3/05.

NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST, FEBRUARY 2, 2006:

Before President Bush spoke it was reported from the

podium that this annual event was started in 1953 in response to then-President Eisenhower's comment

that he was living in the loneliest house in America.

This year's speakers included President Bush and

Bono, the lead singer from the rock music group U2.

Bono emphasized caring for the poor, especially

AIDS victims in Africa.

For the text and video of President Bush's remarks: www.whitehouse.gov search for National Prayer

Breakfast 2/2/2006 (See text below).

For a video of the entire event (only available for a

few days after Feb. 2, 2006): www.c-span.org look

under "Recent Programs" for: "Bono & Pres. Bush

at the Annual National Prayer Breakfast."

Keep praying first of all for nations, leaders and

world events! (1st Tim. 2:1-4)

Jeff Wright, director NPE

For Immediate Release from the White House

Office of the Press Secretary

February 2, 2006

President Attends 54th Annual National Prayer

Breakfast

Hilton Washington Hotel

Washington, D.C.

9:09 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. (Applause.) Thanks for the warm welcome. Laura

and I are delighted to be here. This lovely

personality said this morning, keep your remarks

short. (Laughter.)

I appreciate this prayer breakfast a lot, and I

appreciate the spirit in which it was formed. Ike said

he was living in the loneliest house in America --

what he forgot to say is, the rent is pretty good.

(Laughter.)

It's great to be here with distinguished guests from

all around the world. Your Majesty and Prime

Ministers and former Prime Ministers, friends with

whom I have the honor to work, you're welcome here.

I appreciate the fact that people from different walks

of life, different faiths have joined us. Yet I believe we

share one thing in common: We're united in our

dedication to peace and tolerance and humility

before the Almighty. (Applause.)

I want to thank Senators Pryor and Coleman for

putting on this breakfast. I appreciate Senator Frist, Representative Blunt, Representative Pelosi, other

members of the United States Congress who've

joined us on the dais and who are here for this

breakfast. I thank the members of my Cabinet who

are here. Get back to work. (Laughter.)

I find it interesting that the music is from Arkansas. (Laughter.) I'm glad it is, because they know how to

sing down there. (Laughter.)

You know, I was trying to figure out what to say about

Bono -- (laughter) --

BONO: Careful. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: And a story jumped to mind about

these really good Texas preachers. And he got

going in a sermon and a fellow jumped up in the back

and said, "Use me, Lord, use me." And the preacher

ignored him, and finished his sermon. Next Sunday

he gets up, and cranking on another sermon. And the

guy jumps up and says, "Use me, Lord, use me." And

after the service, he walked up to him and said, "If

you're serious, I'd like for you to paint the pews."

Next Sunday, he's preaching, the guy stands up and

says, "Use me, Lord, use me, but only in an advisory capacity." (Laughter.)

So I've gotten to know Bono. (Laughter.) He's a doer.

The thing about this good citizen of the world is he's

used his position to get things done. You're an

amazing guy, Bono. God bless you. (Applause.)

It is fitting we have a National Prayer Breakfast,

because our nation is a nation of prayer. In America,

we do not prescribe any prayer. We welcome all

prayer. We're a nation founded by men and women

who came to these shores seeking to worship the

Almighty freely. From these prayerful beginnings,

God has greatly blessed the American people, and

through our prayers, we give thanks to the true

source of our blessings.

Americans remain a prayerful people today. I know

this firsthand. I can't tell you the number of times

out there traveling our country, people walk up,

total strangers, and say, Mr. President, I'm praying

for you and your family. It is one of the great

blessings of the presidency, and one of the most

wonderful gifts a person can give any of us who

have the responsibility to govern justly. So I thank

my fellow citizens for their gracious prayers and

wonderful gifts.

Every day, millions of Americans pray for the safety

of our troops, for the protection of innocent life, and

for the peace we all hope for. Americans continue to

pray for the recovery of the wounded, and to pray

for the Almighty's comfort on those who have lost

a loved one. We give thanks daily for the brave and

decent men and women who wear our nation's

uniform, and we thank their families, as well.

In this country, we recognize prayer is a gift from

God to every human being. It is a gift that allows us

to come before our Maker with heartfelt requests

and our deepest hopes. Prayer reminds us of our

place in God's creation. It reminds us that when we

bow our heads or fall to our knees, we are all equal

and precious in the eyes of the Almighty.

In prayer, we're reminded we're never alone in our

personal trials or individual suffering. In prayer, we

offer our thanksgiving and praise, recognizing our

lives, our talents and all that we own ultimately flow

from the Creator. And in these moments of our

deepest gratitude, the Almighty reminds us that for

those to whom much has been given, much is

required.

In prayer, we open ourselves to God's priority,

especially His charge to feed the hungry, to reach

out to the poor, to bring aid to the widow or the

orphan. By surrendering our will to God's will, we

learn to serve His eternal purposes. Through

prayer, our faith is strengthened, our hearts are

humbled and our lives are transformed. Prayer

encourages us to go out into the world and serve.

In our country, we recognize our fellow citizens

are free to profess any faith they choose, or no

faith at all. You are equally American if you're a

Hebrew -- a Jew or a Christian or Muslim. You're

equally American if you choose not to have faith.

It is important America never forgets the great

freedom to worship as you so choose. (Applause.)

What I've found in our country, that whatever our

faith, millions of Americans answer the universal

call to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be

loved yourself. Over the past five years, we've been

inspired by the ways that millions of Americans

have answered that call. In the face of terrorist

attacks and devastating natural disasters here and

around the world, the American people have shown

their faith in action again and again. After Katrina,

volunteers from churches and mosques and

synagogues and other faith-based and community

groups opened up their hearts and their homes to

the displaced. We saw an outpouring of compassion

after the earthquake in Pakistan and the tsunami that devastated entire communities. We live up to God's

calling when we provide help for HIV/AIDS victims on

the continent of Africa and around the world.

In millions of acts of kindness, we have seen the

good heart of America. Bono, the true strength of

this country is not in our military might or in the size

of our wallet, it is in the hearts and souls of the

American people. (Applause.)

I was struck by the comment of a fellow who was

rescued from the Gulf Coast and given shelter. He

said, "I didn't think there was so much love in the

world." This morning we come together to

recognize the source of that great love. We come

together before the Almighty in prayer, to reflect

on God's will, to seek His aid, and to respond to

His grace.

I want to thank you for the fine tradition you

continue here today. I pray that our nation will

always have the humility to commend our cares to Providence and trust in the goodness of His plans.

May God bless you all. (Applause.)

END 9:17 A.M. EST