You may be asking, who should attend the Leadership Prayer Gathering?
The answer is all are welcome and should attend if possible.Here's how we go about it.

Contact is made and invitation given to our leaders. Mayors, State Representatives, Congressmen, Council Leaders, Law Enforcement Leaders, Educational Leaders, Judicial Leaders, Business Leaders, Religious Leaders etc., all are urged to attend. From this group are also selected the Head Table Guests who will participate in the program.

Next, the event is publicized and the citizens from our communities are encouraged to attend and show their support. This has proved to be a great encouragement for our leaders and has served as a vital link between the public and their leadership. It proved no different this year as well.

Stephen McDowell, President of the Providence Foundation, Charlottesville Va. delivered the keynote address at the 2003 Leadership Prayer Breakfast. This was the 10th, in what has become an annual event, encouraging prayer for leaders on the state, local, and national levels.

Here are some positive comments from past and present head table participants:

State Representative Ron Amstutz: "This event is a tremendous encouragement each year. It is wonderful to have the community come together and focus its prayer on the needs of our citizens. I look forward to it and always come away refreshed."

Sheriff Neil Hassinger: "I have enjoyed and benefitted from attending the prayer breakfast. It is spiritual and uplifting for me to see so many men and women worshiping God together. I recommend all our community leaders become involved in this uplifting program."

Mayor Caesar Carrino: "The Leadership Prayer Breakfast held every year and attended by several hundred people of faith continues to give public leaders confidence and strength in their daily quest for administering as the supreme power would want them to administer."

As a special presentation for the 2003 event, Oz2 Productions from Wadsworth, put together a photo and video collage to the music of Russ Lee's "Live What I Believe" with voice overs from David Pierce of Klove Radio and President George W. Bush. Also Ray Charles does a small piece of the song "America" for the intro.

Also, important to note, we intentionally maintained strict political neutrality throughout our 10 events. Our prayers were continually for good and Godly leaders to be raised into positions of leadership on the state, local, and national levels. President George W. Bush appears because of Godly statements he was making while serving as president.

"Live What I Believe" Russ Lee with President George W. Bush by Russ Lee and Doug McKelvey

Voiceover: When George W Bush was asked to name the philosopher that had the greatest influence on his life, this was his answer:

GWB: Christ, because he changed my heart.

These are the days

For the children of faith

To stand up and be counted

GWB: I believe things happen for a reason.

Now is the time

For the light in us to shine

On whoever's around it

GWB: I ask for you to pray for this great nation.

One life can be the proof

Of the hope that is You

I'm gonna live what I believe

I'm gonna walk that line

If it costs me everything

I'm gonna stand for what is right

GWB: I will swear to not only uphold the laws of our land, I will swear to uphold the honor and dignity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God!

The world will see God's grace

When we work and we pray

And then love like we mean it

GWB: Now it is time to find common ground. And to build consensus. To make America a beacon of opportunity in the 21st century.

Well, I think we're in it

One life can be the proof

Of the hope that is You

I'm gonna live what I believe

I'm gonna walk that line

If it costs me everything

I'm gonna stand for what is right

So that everyone can see

It's Jesus that they need

I'm gonna live what I believe

GWB: I know America wants reconciliation and unity.

There's a passion deep inside

I'm gonna live what I believe

GWB: I know Americans want progress.

For my life to testify

GWB: And we must seize this moment and deliver.

Lord, let me be used

As a witness for You

With faith and conviction

GWB: Together guided by a spirit of common sense, common courtesy, and common goals. We can unite and inspire the American citizens.

Live a life

Gonna walk that line

Live what I believe

Live a life

I'm gonna stand for what is right

Live what I believe

GWB: I ask for your prayers for leaders from both parties.

Hey, it's Jesus that they need

I'm gonna live what I believe

I'm gonna walk that line

If it costs me everything

I'm gonna stand for what is right

So that everyone can see

It's Jesus that they need

I'm gonna live what I believe

GWB: I thank you for your prayers for me and my family. I ask for you to pray for this great nation.

And if it costs me everything

Live what I believe

GWB: I will swear to uphold the honor and dignity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God!

I'm gonna live what I believe

Live a life

I'm gonna live what I believe

Live a life

GWB: Christ.

I want everyone to see

Live what I believe

GWB: Because he changed my heart.

I'm gonna live what I believe.

GWB: It is more than an office. It is a charge to keep. And I will give it my all.

Stephen McDowell has taught inspiring seminars throughout the United States as well as in Asia, South America, Australia, Europe and Africa. He has trained thousands of people from 70 countries, consulted with numerous government officials, assisted in writing political documents and starting political parties, and helped establish classes on godly reformation in numerous churches. He has authored and co-authored several books and videos. Stephen pastored churches for six years before moving to Charlottesville to help Mark start the Providence Foundation. He and his wife, Beth, have four children.


The Providence Foundation is a Christian educational organization whose mission is to spread liberty, justice, and prosperity among the nations by instructing individuals in a Biblical worldview. Emphasis is upon educating in principles, rather than issues, drawing upon examples in history for illustration. The founding era of America's history is especially emphasized since ideas of Divine Providence and similar terminology expressed a basic link in the Founder's thinking between God and history.

"Providence" is defined as the preservation, government, guidance, and direction which God exercises over all creation, including the civil affairs of men and women. The Scriptures contain a theology of the family, the church, and the state. Principles in God's written Word that relate to civil government, politics, economics, and education are timeless and universally useful for the benefit of any culture on earth today.