At 8.30 AM on Saturday morning, February 11th, ministers, seminary students from UTS and brothers & sisters from all of New York's six districts began to gather at the Church of the Living Hope for what was to be a life-giving prayer breakfast. As we entered we were greeted by Mrs. Hardaway, wife of Rev. Leander Hardaway, and guided to the second floor of this beautifully welcoming church.

Rev. Leander Hardaway opened the breakfast with a warm welcome for everyone and invited Pastor Raymond Dyer to give the invocation. After the invocation a lovely breakfast was served. Over breakfast we were treated to two lovely songs of praise by Pastor John Moye. Bishop Margie de la Rosa gave the first presentation on Free Teens, which is making a great impact in guiding teens to remain abstinent until they are ready to make a commitment to marriage. Sister Hardaway of WATC Worship Arts Theological Training Center spoke about the need to provide venues for young people to inherit the musical heritage of their parents as many public schools were now cutting their music programs. UTS students and Rev. Wesley Samuels gave presentations.

We saw a 15 minute video presentation about the establishment of the Universal Peace Federation and Rev Moon's 120-city world tour.

After breakfast we proceeded downstairs to the chapel for the service part of this enlightening prayer breakfast. The service was again led by Pastor Leander Hardaway. Seated on the stage were ACLC representatives from all of New York's six districts. As everyone was settling into their seats Sister Hardaway of WATC together with Minister David Bratton on the piano led us in singing several songs, "Amen," "This is the Day, "Bread of Heaven." In preparation for the speakers three readings were presented. The first one from Isaiah 42: 1-9 was read by Sister Bratton, the second read by Rev Jorg Heller were notes from a talk Rev. Moon gave to ministers on their return from Israel & Gaza in 2003, and the third read by Minister Daveta Ogunola was a poem entitled The Pulse of Morning written by Maya Angelou. These readings set the tone for the speakers who followed.

Rev Daugherty, our first speaker, shared about ACLC activities around the country and how there are many unsung heroes who support us with their prayers, especially our wives, mothers and grandmothers. He also shared about his attendance at Mrs. Coretta Scott King's funeral the week before. He concluded by exhorting us to become a good influence on this nation and towards that end increase the ACLC membership to 30,000 by 2008. Bishop Margie de la Rosa then introduced our keynote speaker, Bishop George Augustus Stallings.

Bishop Stallings began with a quote from Charles Dickens: "These are the best of times and these are the worst of times. These times will test the best of us." He said, "I have some new wine and we need to have some new wine skins. I'm not going to be long but I'm going to be strong. What I'm going to say is all in the BIBLE: the Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth."

He appealed to the ministers, "Don't leave the highway. You may not be able to keep up to the speed and if you need, pull of to the side but don't leave the highway. Help is on the way."

Following Bishop Stallings' speech a holy wine ceremony was held for couples to rededicate themselves to their spouses. The service ended with a song led by Minister Daveta Ogunola, "Let's Praise God Together" and a prayer by Rev. Daugherty.

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