Lifestyle // Religion & Spirituality

Author turns to love to overcome adversity

The Greater Houston Prayer Breakfast is all about honoring local officials, sharing the Gospel and inspiring faith-based conversation and action.

This year’s event, which marks its 44th anniversary, will be 6:45-8:15 a.m. Thursday at Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar.

Roger Wernette, executive director of Houston Gathering of Men, said the breakfast serves two purposes.

“First, it’s to pray for our city, for the mayor, the senators, legislators, the judges, fire department, police and Texas Rangers,” he said. “The second, is truly to share our Christian faith.”

The Gathering of Men has hosted the breakfast for the past decade.

“Over the years, we built up partnerships with businesses, churches, people who want to pray for the city and hear the Gospel,” Wernette said. “And this is not just a one-off event. We deal with the follow-up all year long.”

New friendships, conversations and collaborations often emerge from the breakfast. The event sparks action, especially because of the variety of people who gather in prayer and the dynamic keynotes.

Past speakers have included NFL Hall of Famers Kurt Warner and Steve Largent, as well football coaching legend Lou Holtz and author Lee Strobel.

This year, Bob Goff will take the stage. This best-selling author practiced law for 25 years before pursuing a full-time career as a speaker, diplomat, writer and pursuer of social justice.

The Houston Chronicle caught up with Goff while he waited for a plane to Afghanistan on March 25:

Q: You’re a lawyer, author, founder of a nonprofit — as well as a keynote speaker, known for motivating individuals, like those attending the prayer breakfast. How does faith affect you in your roles and professions?

A: Faith informs everything that I do, but there’s room at the table for everyone. Those who have faith let that guide their steps. For some people, there are other things that inspire them. I want them to know that they’re welcome.

Q: You wrote the book “Love Does,” which prompted your founding a nonprofit of the same name. The organization is dedicated to helping children in conflict zones, protecting human rights, providing education and supporting women in a number of countries. How did women, children’s rights and education become such a high priority for you?

A: The role of women in making society a happier, healthier, better place for their children is unbelievable. We work to help women have a better education so they can do what they do best. This whole idea of empowering women, we just need to get out of their way.

Q: You serve as Honorary Consul to the Republic of Uganda to the U.S. How did that happen?

A: You know what’s crazy? They just asked me. I was like, “Heck yeah. I’m in.” Uganda is a country that’s gone through so much, including a 25-year civil war.

Q: You created “Dream Big Framework.” This workshop is meant to help others realize their passions, find clarity about their goals and overcome what stands in their way. Can you describe what that’s about and how it works?

A: You know in these big arenas, you end up talking to so many people, but you don’t have the opportunity to go deeper with them. We wanted to take 30 to 50 people and go a mile deep. We ask people what are their ambitions. There might be something they always wanted to do, like go to law school or become a fly-fishing guide. Who do you want to be 10 years from now? What are the things in the way? Sometimes it’s a job. Sometimes it’s a relationship that changed. Friendships that used to lift you up might not anymore. Expect that there will be setbacks, but that doesn’t mean God closed the door. Someone just said no to you, that’s the only thing that happened. We want to help people land the plane. That means sometimes not just making a list but making a call. I think we all ought to be more engaged. Get some skin in the game. For me, that means not just circulating a petition but going to a country.

Q: Your books are both about the positive power of love. Why is love your tool of choice?

A: Love, when it has an agenda, is no longer love. It becomes a program. And we don’t need any more programs. We just need people who love people. We don’t dazzle God by going across the ocean. He loves when you go across the street. It’s the idea of loving your neighbor right here in Houston.

Q: If you could ask attendees to walk away from the Greater Houston Prayer Breakfast with one thought, what would it be?

A: God loves everybody. It’s everybody, all of the time. That’s why I wrote a book called, “Everybody, Always,” not “Some people, some times.”

Lindsay Peyton is a writer in Houston.