Feb 16, 2012
The Name of Jesus at National Prayer Breakfast
The National Prayer Breakfast: Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, DC
Nicole Ketcham, Trac5 Intern

I walked around the hotel lobby and the conversations I overheard as I passed by were abuzz with the name “Jesus.” The reconciling power in that name was in evidence at every meal, gathering, speech, and meeting throughout the official days of the Breakfast. I heard countless first hand accounts of Jesus-centered reconciliation occurring in places like the Balkans, Ethiopia, Israel-Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, and even in the White House itself. It was in the name and spirit of Jesus that the Breakfast was held. For it is in that name and not in the name of religion that people find common ground. And, it is in teachings such as loving your neighbor as yourself and loving your enemies that the process of reconciliation, grounded in Jesus, can take place. There, at the Hilton, I witnessed bonds forming and friendships renewing between the most unlikely of people and amongst grassroots, religious and political leaders alike!

The Middle East Breakfast was noteworthy as an Israeli rabbi, a Palestinian Christian woman, and a Lebanese sheikh stood on stage together and read excerpts from the Torah, the New Testament and the Qur’an respectively in their mother tongues. When it was the Lebanese sheikh’s turn, he took the opportunity and told us the story of his encounter with Jesus. It was one he could not shake and subsequently realized, after further study of his own Qur’an, that in order for him to be a good Muslim, he had to believe in and embrace Jesus. He decided to actively follow Jesus. This meant that he would adhere to the teachings of Jesus and would approach others in the spirit of Jesus, that is, in humility and love. His life was changed and he calls on others to reach out in love to all, even to their enemies, as Jesus taught. At the close of this Lebanese sheikh’s impromptu speech, he received a standing ovation.

Somehow, by lifting up the name of Jesus and allowing people to come together as they are in that name, there is a certain power of reconciliation, a turning back to God and His ways that changes the way one views and treats others. This power was manifest at the 60th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. It was inspirational and life-changing if one put into practice what one saw and heard. It challenges one to dig deep and allow one's own prejudices and perspectives to surface. Then, clothed in the humility and love of Jesus, allowing a change of heart to take place that shakes one to the very core but becomes life-giving and forever rewarding.