Breakfast aims to highlight success of the Church in Ottawa

Allen Macartney
Special to Spur Ottawa

Christians from across Ottawa will gather in the morning of October 29 for the annual Ottawa Civic Prayer Breakfast.

“The prayer breakfast lets us thank and pray for civic leaders and first responders,” says Mark Peterkins, executive director of One Way Ministries (the breakfast organizers). “We want them to know and feel that the Church is encouraging them. Our support is real and tangible.”

The breakfast also provides a venue for highlighting stories how the Church has demonstrated itself as a great neighbour and community builder in our city. “That message overlaps with the goals of civic leaders,” Peterkins adds.

Garth Steele is this year’s featured speaker. Steele has a long history of working, volunteering, and serving others in Ottawa, but the team is also excited for the Church to hear his powerful story. Since being invited to speak, Steele was diagnosed with ALS.

“More and more people are feeling criticized, and don’t feel they belong anymore.”

“Garth’s story is going to touch many people deeply,” Peterkins states. “He is a great example of how a Christian can live and work in light of eternity.”

Because of its ever-growing relevance, “Who Is My Neighbour?” has long been the breakfast’s theme. This year’s pandemic tensions underlined the need for building and strengthening community relations.

Steele emphasises that cancel culture and a growing sense of intolerance toward others in our society does not change or narrow the breakfast’s focus. “Rather, they broaden it. More and more people are feeling criticized, and don’t feel they belong anymore. These people are our neighbours. We need to be reaching out to them to provide the love and support that they need to understand their true value in the eyes of Christ.”

“I hope my message will give everyone a better understanding of who really is our neighbour, and a passion to reach out,” Steele says.

Before COVID, over 500 people attended the annual prayer breakfasts. Last year, the entire event was held online, with more than 750 people participating from across the country.

“Attending the breakfast reminds us that we are more than just our individual organizations or churches.”

“This year’s breakfast will be a hybrid event,” Peterkins says, “with seating for 250 attendees around real breakfast tables, as well as unlimited capacity for virtual participation.”

Tickets for the in-person portion have already sold out, but participating online is free. The program this year will include many unique stories of the Church in action, including how different parts of the Church in the city are serving COVID-related needs.

Kerry Kronberg, pastor of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church, has attended at least five of the prayer breakfasts. “I like them because they put our first responders and civic leaders before us in way that honours them and their work,” he says. “It inspires us to pray for them.

“Attending the breakfast reminds us that we are more than just our individual organizations or churches. It emphasizes our connection within the wider community of Christ-followers, and between the Church and society. It reminds us that part of our mandate involves showing tangible love for our neighbours in this city.”

“Each of us has an area of strength and encouragement that will bless others,” Steele adds. “Let’s ask God to identify that gifting, and help us share it with others.”