This morning, Mayor Sue Lynch and the Faith Action Network co-hosted their annual National Day of Prayer breakfast. Pastors from across Portage gathered with city staff and citizens to celebrate, pray, and break bread.
“It means a lot to me. It gives the pastors in the city the opportunity to pray over our employees, and I think it’s what we need as a city to always know that they’re behind us, praying for us because we do have challenges as a city,” said Mayor Sue Lynch. “I missed having the prayer breakfast last year because it is a good thing. We need to always be mindful that some days we get through by the power of prayer.”
Before breakfast, Mayor Lynch told a story of how she and Collin Czilli, city council president, had nearly avoided an accident while on a drive around the city. She explained that the other driver was going far over the speed limit and he did not see their car over the railroad tracks. Once the accident was avoided, Mayor Lynch felt it was divine intervention.
The prayer breakfast tradition began twenty years ago when the leader of the Faith Action Network invited the mayor at the time to attend their prayer breakfast. The mayor asked to bring along other staff, and, in need of more space, the group decided to gather in Sycamore Hall in the Woodland Park Community Center and invite the town to attend.
“I love the Faith Action Network,” Julie Hayden, pastor at City Point Church, said with a smile. “We come together from all different churches and non-profits to help and love on our city. It has been great being a member of the Faith Action Network because we get to see God do incredible things. Last year during the pandemic, we were able to feed about 250 health care workers and were able to work on the national day of prayer.”
The Faith Action Network brings Portage together, and so does the prayer breakfast. Guests ranged from toddlers to seniors as well as from those who are Portage-born to those who are new in town.
“We were invited by our pastor—we belong to the City of Refuge Christian Church of Northwest Indiana—and we’re interested in finding out more information about what’s going on in Portage,” said Bettie Saunders, who was attending with her husband Raymond.
“We’re new in the area and we have really enjoyed our stay so far,” Raymond Saunders said.
Many members of the Daughters of the American Revolution also attended.
“I belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution, and this is one of the events we attend,” said Margaret McGriff. “I think our nation right now needs a lot of prayers. We need to come together and work together in order to move forward.”
The prayer breakfast helps Portage reach and attain the goal of togetherness, and the added perk of bacon and eggs that were served did not hurt.
To learn more about the City of Portage, visit their website at https://www.portagein.gov.
