WASHINGTON—This year’s Easter prayer breakfast at the White House was a spiritually compelling event, say two Virginia Baptists who attended the April 4 breakfast hosted by President Obama.
At his third annual prayer breakfast held during Holy Week, Obama told about 150 people in the East Room that Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice puts the travails of his own life in perspective, Religion News Service reported.
“In this world you have trouble,” Obama said, quoting from the Gospel of John. “I heard an amen.”
John Upton (center), executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, was among the guests at President Obama's Easter prayer breakfast.
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Among the guests were John Chandler, leader of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s Spence Network for Congregational Leadership, and Jim Baucom, senior pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va.
“You don’t have to agree with every policy decision that comes from the White House, but I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that our president leads from a heart of Christian faith,” said Chandler. “He wakes daily up with ‘the least of these’ on his mind. It stirs me to work more diligently for the shalom of our nation.”
Baucom said he believes the president hosts the event “as much for his personal spiritual celebration of Easter as for the benefit of those in attendance.”
“He always offers a sermon at the beginning of the event on the power of Christ’s death and resurrection—and yes, it is a sermon—then remains for the entire worship experience and to greet every guest afterward,” said Baucom. “His remarks are personal, profound and powerful, leaving no doubt about his personal conviction.”
Also attending the breakfast was John Upton, executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and president of the Baptist World Alliance.
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During his comments, Obama said Jesus’ triumph over his own pain is what helps himself and others struggle with their own burdens, a line that earned him a few shout-outs of “right” and “uh huh,” according to RNS.
“It’s only because he endured unimaginable pain that wracked his body and bore the sins of the world that burdened his soul that we are able to proclaim ‘He is Risen,’” said Obama, who grew up in a secular home but joined a United Church of Christ congregation in Chicago as an adult.
Other guests were Julius Scruggs, president of the National Baptist Convention; Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter, a spiritual adviser to Obama; Archbishop Demitrios of the Greek Orthodox Church; Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl; and civil rights leader Al Sharpton.
Also present was Joshua DuBois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
“I pray regularly for President Obama and for incredible leaders in his office like Joshua DuBois,” said Chandler. “The testimonies of their faith in Jesus Christ at these prayer breakfasts have been clear and compelling.”
“President Obama was the first to initiate this gathering in the East Room of the White House three years ago,” said Baucom. “It is a remarkable event, really a Holy Week worship service in the White House.
“Of course, it’s always a thrill to go to the White House, but I have done that a number of times in various capacities and with various leaders,” he added. “This breakfast is different. I have found it to be one of the most profoundly moving spiritual experiences of my Holy Week.”
Robert Dilday ([email protected]) is managing editor of the Religious Herald.