Men's Prayer Breakfast

This long-standing, multi-generational group meets every Wednesday morning from   7:30 a.m.to 8:30 a.m. in Calvin Hall.  They don't have a lot of competition for space at that hour, slipping in the church for breakfast and prayer and departing before most of the staff arrives.  But if they find out someone's in need of prayer, from illness or other crisis, that person will get a card from the Men's Prayer Breakfast that's been signed by all of them.  We are grateful for their quiet ministry.  AND they do their dishes.

Northminster Men's Prayer Breakfast History

A Thumbnail Sketch

Like parts of the Bible, the history of this group goes so far back in time, memories are imprecise and records are limited. Best recollection is the origins lay in the patient nurture of Bill Duke and Don Miller, who in 1958 recruited Jerry Deer and the undersigned to meet with them on Wednesday mornings in the old kitchen and have a cup of coffee replete with maybe a sweet roll or a bagel. The purpose was simple enough: think of the folks in Northminster who were having problems, are ill, suffering bereavement, facing surgery, losing jobs, going thru divorce, etc., and say a prayer in their behalf. Adding to that list, any from our own personal acquaintance as well. Then we discussed favorite passages from the Bible. Don Miller was a great collector of our inspiring texts and in the process, broadened his knowledge of scriptures, which like most of us, was minimal indeed. After a couple weeks when others had joined, we decided instead of reading random passages to select a book for study, then lined out by chapter, who would "do" each segment.

Then some member said, "Hey! Why don't we get a little card we can all sign and let folks know that this morning we said a prayer for them?" In time the group doubled in size since Don Miller was a great recruiter, and it continued to grow. We graduated from rolls and coffee to a sit-down breakfast since the chapters took a little time to work through. One day the Pastor, Wilbur R. Closterhouse, wondered if it would be OK if he came. We had a closed meeting and after a fierce debate and a 9-11 vote, concurred that he could come. (Not really. We enjoyed having him. But Wilbur came on board as a referee and a resource. He was not entitled to run our show.)

When we ultimately hit 18 people on average, we had the pattern down to a pretty neat package. One guy (or often two) signed on to prepare the breakfast; someone else did the lesson, and a final group cleaned up the kitchen after we had finished.

Voila! We were a self-sufficient, self-sustaining, self-perpetuating unit with fellowship, a circle of prayer, a modest course in theology and outreach. This became our pattern, which continues today.

After we select a book, one member signs to introduce it and to provide background on who wrote it, why it was written, and other historical details. Other members, in turn each week, read the chapter they have accepted, analyze it, tell us the relevant problems, comment, as appropriate, on the history of the period and theological considerations. Questions and discuss follow.

If all this sounds intimidating, there is no requirement that members participate beyond the $5.00 meal and breaking bread with the guys. We no longer clean the kitchen.

We proceed through the years in this fashion to do our own self-study of the Bible. By now we have been through it (in random or sporadic fashion) at least two and sometimes three times. (Genesis alone would take a year: An introduction, then fifty chapters to analyze and explain. There are 150 Psalms - three years!) We estimate that since 1958 approximately 150 men have been involved in this process.

This has proven to be a great way to become a biblical literate, at least at the elementary level. And we having heard "the word", and then figure out how to be "doers" of same.

--P.E. MacAllister