National Hispanic
Prayer Breakfast

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Pastor Raul Ramos of the Pasadena Spanish church and more than 700 clergy from various denominations throughout the United States attended a National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast May 16. The guest of honor was President George W. Bush.

This was a historic gathering. "Never before has a sitting President led a prayer breakfast with and for Latino people," said Luis Cortes, host of the prayer breakfast and founder of Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) Inc.

President Bush delighted the crowd as he sprinkled his message with various words and biblical quotations in Spanish.

The President made the following comments:

l "We are here to make sure that the hand of God is guiding our nation."

l "Nothing is more powerful to change a country than faith in Dios (God)."

l "Prayer is the greatest gift you can give."

l "We need to change America one soul or conscience at a time."

l "You are an army of compassion. Continue working on your mission.... Then we should be able to hear, ‘Bien, Siervo Bueno y Fiel’ " (Well done, good and faithful servant).

On behalf of the pastors, Luciano Jaramillo of the International Bible Society presented President Bush with a copy of the Holy Scriptures in Spanish.

The event took place in the Presidential Ballroom of the Capital Hilton. It began with half an hour of worship led by "El Trio de Hoy" (Trio of Today) conducted both in English and Spanish.

In the invocation, Jesse Miranda, president of A.M.E.N. (the National Association of Evangelical Ministries), prayed: "May this meeting not bring glory to us, but to you, O Lord. We want the glory for you, Jesus."

After the presentation of the flag by the Armed Forces color guard, the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, Jose Eugenio Hoyos of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Dale City, Virginia, offered prayers for the nation and for the President of the United States.

Various pastors offered prayers throughout this meeting for our nation’s political leaders, for world peace and for the entire Hispanic community in the United States. Worship songs were presented by Miguel Angel Guerra, Ingrid Rosario and Marcos Witt.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) told the pastors: "I’m encouraged by the work you are doing to address … our spiritual challenges. By working to nurture the soul of our nation, you will truly provide una nueva esperanza (a new hope) for those you serve and the America we love."

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut) told the gathering: "The first settlers came here for freedom of religion, not for freedom from religion. Our rights come from our Creator. People talk about separation of church and state, and those who do, perhaps have not read the Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence."

Other speakers included Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pennslyvania); Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma); and Mel Martinez, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS—President George W. Bush
addresses Hispanic pastors May 16.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002