Hundreds Turn Out for Woodbury Prayer Breakfast

Fear. We do not face it alone.

Keith Johnson, the featured speaker at this year’s , gave a stirring, funny and poignant speech for the hundreds who attended Tuesday’s event at the Prom Center in Oakdale.

Johnson, a former chaplain with the Minnesota Vikings, addressed this year’s theme, “Tackling Fear With Faith,” through the story of David and Goliath. Just as David faced his Goliath, so too must people in Woodbury stand up to the fears that can grip our lives, said Johnson, often peppering his speech with interesting nuggets from his travels to the Holy Land.

It was my first time attending a Woodbury Prayer Breakfast, but I have to say that Johnson was a great choice as speaker. He was as advertised: funny, engaging and genuinely passionate about the power of prayer. Johnson urged those in attendance to take action on their prayers and work together as a community.

On the heels of the death of Osama bin Laden, also served as a tribute to military men and women. The crowd honored them with several ovations.

Meanwhile, community leaders took turns reading prayers during the event, from Councilman Christopher Burns to Principal Aaron Harper and Drew Baldridge from .

The event has been held for the past dozen years or so. And I’d encourage anyone who has not attended to do so next year. The atmosphere was great, and I had people of all faiths at my table with the .

It was good to see the spirit of the community so many people talk about here.