The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 9, 2004 L487Wf W$78-2881' -ýCoren uplifts crowd at prayer breakfast Second annual event draws 250 people to Rattlesnake Point "I1t's great to sec so many people here to pray. Prayer is the most important thing By STEPHANIE THIESSEN there is." The Champion W ith nearly 250 heads M mEc0f bowed in prayer, citi- V V zens and politicians alike, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. And then a deep, male voice cut tbrougb the silence and began ta pray for Milton and Halton politicians. Cburch leaders, congregants, council- lors, business and education leaders gatb- ered together February 27 for the second annual Milton Mayor's Christian Prayer Breakfast at Rattlesnake Point Golf and Country Club. Solidarity was the order of the day and the shared belief ine the power of prayer wss demonstrated with more than just words. Nearly every round table was filled ta capacity, with people waiting to hear keynote speaker Michael Coren. 'he smell of scramhled eggs and bacon penneated the air. "Our main goal was to draw Cbristians together to, pray for those in authority over us," said organizer Bill MacKinnon, adding it was also ta, show appreciation ta Milton's elected officiais. Speaker Mr. Coren is known as the out- spoken hast of a caîl-in radio show on CFRB and a TV talk show on CTS. His weekly columin appears eacb Sunday in the Toronto Sun, asd be's the author of 1l books. Coren ideal guest Ms. Coren was chosen as the event's speaker for a number of reasons, including bis outspoken nsature, Mr. MacKinnon said. "He usually bas a lot ta say about civic issues and is outspoken about the govem- ment," said Mr. MacKinnon. adding Mr. Coren is a Christian. "Since aur focus was on praying for aur town leaders, we tbougbt be'd be muaI appropriate ta speak about civic issues." And outapoken Ms. Coren was. 1I am the Christian who didn't like the Passion (of the Christ)," Ms. Coren said. laugbing, as he introduced himself to the room full of people. For haif-an-hour, Mr. Coren spoke of his conversion to Christianity and his persona] belief ine the power of prayer, illustrated by a story of his sister's reconciliation with his famnily. Jokes punctuated bis message, leavmng people ine stitches. He concluded witb a challenge to, share God's love, even when it's flot easy. "Love your neighbour as yourself," he said. "Witbout love, you have notbing. This is what Jesus preached time ansd again." Mayor encouraged by turnout At the conclusion of tbe breakfast, Mayor Gord Krantz said it's encouraging to have comuesity members joi for a common purpose, and spoke of the impor- tance of creating a closely-knit community tbrougb caring for each other. Mr. MacKinnon said the event went off without a hitcb, and was even more suc- cessful than lst year's. He said be looks forward to a tbird and fourtb prayer break- fast. It's beartening, be said, to see su many Miltonians unified in prayer. "We ail believe God answers prayer," he said, adding he thinks it's important to pray for wisdomn for Milson's politicians and for continued peace in Milton. Mr. Coren agreed. "It's ,reat to sec so many people bere ta pray," be said. takiog a break froîre auto- graphesg books and cbateing wetb gueses. 'Prayer is the most emportant tbing there 65." Sue Anderson, the music director se Grace Anglican Cburcb, said wbile leaving the banquet room that she fels "uplifted" by the event, adding she found Mr. Coren's talk "spell-binding." Stephanie Thieaaen can be reached ai sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com. Photo by JILL KITCHENER Writer and TV and radio hast Michael Coren takes a moment to display a copy of hie most recent book et the second annuel Milton Mayor's Christian Prayer Breakfast, held February 27. olWCOGECQ 'Cogeco Cable Programming Schedule - Tuesday, March 9 - Monday, March 15, 2004 Tm Loa Temdo Channel 14 W WC SC .8 5pm, 6p 6<,,Pgged In 15pr kWI 5pr, pr Pled IN Spn eps PSngd ln 7:30 LWe Wek 15b 105671 1VC09670 Sports; SP11. 5,p d U uni à 7:30p. E&lty We Edbmo EOty Week 5361,1 & 7:30pm Ealy W,,6k Effido & 7 30PM1 Lte Week SEtfiS, 4:0071 106667 Sports: HIA. HdeytS &43 7:0x Lai e k NORTH HALTON STUDIO 5:0r S enior Sosmeas50e 5 OSpo POplSPOM i Hakon 5:3p O sa ,1, lied Cosodo Efiris HSke F.91 p., 5:30pm 007 God Taise 633511 optStoTVBl&W (Sos) 6 306e 6 go pOed e:0r mam poee GOto Hockey F7436 & 7:301, Lob YM EM6o, 6 30pt nPeoed & BeWme Launer Plaza 8:00 0,100 IHCout- 7300 sunprn- <56> 7006e issu Io.. 5:30Pe e itepho 7'Dot B ns Ma6280071, lido, Regwo cosso -«~, 810r Mi 6:071 605061 OtO0&n 0 . SPoe%'Zoe Lin (#W) 500 Launer Avenue Ma". 3 :0 bobpuin1W WM Mmey £ek