A question was raised on Twitter last week regarding Prayer Breakfasts and why we call them by that name. Over the years I have been to many which consists of many elements:
- Fellowship and socializing
- Food: either buffet or served
- Special speaker
- Offering
- Door prizes
- Prayer
If you're like me, I like to get together with folks and have a fellowship and eat good food. It is necessary for our society as a whole but I question why we call these events Prayer Breakfast when prayer is the last on the list of things to do, and only a few minutes overall is spent in this portion of the program.
Several of us went to a breakfast this past weekend. It was a lovely fellowship which turned into a fund raiser without notification. But for the most part, these social events are called "Prayer" breakfast and the fact that more time is spent in food and sermons than prayer, suggest that the names be changed to fellowship breakfasts.This weekend, we had a wonderful word that the sisters gathered to think about the region, the cities we each represented. The tone was set, fellowship, great food and table talk, and then the speaker took a direction that left no time for prayer at all. We left feeling we had not completed the mission. We had not prayed even for each other. At most of these events, we end up praying for fifteen minutes out of three hours.
The question I raise today is this: Should the name be changed to Fellowship Breakfasts? Should prayer be the first on the agenda before breakfast is served or at least the first thing after breakfast? Should prayer be the most important thing before a speaker?
Please feel free to leave a comment below. Let's dialogue. God inhabits our praise, our prayers are a part of praise ... have you ever gone to a prayer breakfast and left feeling you didn't complete the reason for going?
Please feel free to leave a comment below. Let's dialogue. God inhabits our praise, our prayers are a part of praise ... have you ever gone to a prayer breakfast and left feeling you didn't complete the reason for going?
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2 comments:
Susan,
I have been going to these types of gatherings for years. Mostly as a sign of support to my colleagues who are building their minstries. Great Fellowships that I treasure today.
As I have grown in the Faith, these were nice outings to introduce those who are young in Christ and a non-intimidating entrance into the land of "church" which is sometimes scary. But out comes the offering and a display of "Spiritual gifts" that many new to Christ don't understand.
I vote to just pray No FOOD, no entertainment!! Opps the last time I did that, it was just me a friend and God. THAT was AWESOME!
Susan, I think that ultimately you can call it what pleases you most. I think Fellowship Breakfast sounds accurate, and fellowship can of course include prayers as well as breaking bread together and chatting and laughing and being happy.
~Lorna
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