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Breakfast event will pray for local people and industry

JANESVILLE — When times get tough, the tough keep praying.

That’s the idea behind the Janesville Ministerial Association’s Prayer Breakfast.

The breakfast, which will be held at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, will feature a catered meal, music and, of course, prayers.

Ministers and representatives from Janesville’s Lutheran, Presbyterian, Congregational, Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, independent, Assemblies of God and variety of other denominations will be present to lead prayers.

“We want to gather together and pray for our community,” said the Rev. Bruce Jones of First Presbyterian Church, Janesville.

The idea for the prayer breakfast started with the Rev. Paul Speerbrecher of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Janesville, shortly after General Motors’ announcement that it would halt operations at its Janesville Assembly plant.

“I’ve been thinking and praying about it for four or five months,” Speerbrecher said. “I came to understand that (GM’s assembly ending in Janesville) is going to be very traumatic for our community.”

Initially, he thought about having his congregation do something.

“I realized that it was bigger than just our congregation, and I wanted to be more inclusive,” Speerbrecher said.

The event will start at 7:30 a.m. with social time, but the breakfast will officially start at 8 a.m. It will be followed by music by “Glory Bound” from First Christian Church.

Ministers and lay leaders will then lead prayers for government leaders, schools, police and firefighters, nonprofits, schools, pastors and churches, families, health-care needs and industry and businesses.

“These problems are bigger than we are; we need a resource or a helper,” Speerbrecher said. “For us as Christians, we have someone other than ourselves—God or Jesus Christ. The psalms say ‘Call upon me in a day of trouble.’”

If you go

What: Janesville Ministerial Association Prayer Breakfast, sponsored by the Janesville Ministerial Association.

When: Social time starts at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Where: Pontiac Convention Center, 2809 Pontiac Drive, Janesville.

Cost: $6.

The ministerial association asks that people sign up at their home church by Sunday, Jan. 25. Deadline for registration is Monday, Jan. 26. To register Monday, call St. Mark Lutheran Church at (608) 754-8115. No one will be turned away from the event, but the association needs to give the caterer an idea of how many people will attend.