2008 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference Brief

Another Year of Blessed Success

The 2008 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference Gathered 600 Hispanic Clergy and Community Leaders in Washington, D.C.

“This has been the best year ever,” said one conference participant to the Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr., president of Esperanza, at the end of the Prayer Breakfast. Throughout the three-day event, people were inspired by prayer, motivated to advocate for the immigrant community, and affirmed as Latinos and Latinas of faith. Once more, the event confirmed what we have always known: we can accomplish anything for our community when we come together as one Hispanic voice.

Esperanza has become the largest Hispanic Evangelical network in the United States, and the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference is one of the vehicles through which we make our voices heard. This year the event took place from June 24 to the 26 at the prestigious J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference brought together Hispanic clergy members of different denominations and leaders of community-based organizations, representing a broad spectrum of the national Latino community.

The first day of the conference began with an exciting advocacy training on the value of community engagement. The trainer, Mr. Richard Rivera, President of RR Consulting & Associates, discussed the relevance and importance of advocacy versus lobbying. Then participants were uplifted with intercessory prayers for women, families, health, and national security, among other subjects, during the Mujeres de Esperanza Prayer Challenge. Later that evening, during the State of Hispanic Housing Dinner, Mr. Tino Díaz, Vice Chairman of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, detailed the vitality of the Hispanic homeowners despite the stereotypes casted by lenders. Rounding out the evening, participants were treated to musical celebrations performed by renowned Hispanic Gospel singers Julissa and Ricardo Rodríguez.

Esperanza’s Town Hall Meetings opened the second day of the conference. During these informational briefing sessions, the campaign managers for both the republican and democratic presidential candidates –Richard Davis and David Plouffe, respectively– addressed our group of faith and community leaders. This was an important event for the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference, since it marked the first time that, in the midst of a national presidential campaign, a group of Latino faith leaders had direct access to learn the candidates’ views on Hispanic issues and ask relevant questions on the subject.

Esperanza also released The Survivor’s Guide for Immigrants during the Immigration Workshop Luncheon. This new resource continues Esperanza’s efforts towards helping the immigrant community. At the end of his passionate remarks regarding the Survivor’s Guide, Rev. Cortés thanked Ms. Judith Golub and Ms. Donna Lipinski for their informative presentation and for being instrumental in the creation of this new resource. “We hope it becomes a useful tool to help the voiceless in the immigrant community, the undocumented and their families,” said Rev. Cortés about the guides. Later that afternoon, participants attended a powerful prayer session at the second Mujeres de Esperanza Prayer Challenge.

The second evening was marked by the Esperanza Partners and Awards Dinner. This was a night of celebration where we thanked and honored our valued partners. Esperanza also presented four awards. The Esperanza Spirit Award, was given to the Rev. Juan Romero for exemplary ministerial service; the Esperanza Advocate Award, given to an individual for advocacy on behalf of the Hispanic faith community, went to Mr. Adam Chavarria, the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; Mexican actor Mr. Eduardo Verástegui was honored with the Esperanza Image Award for being an exemplary role model for Latinos; and the Mujeres de Esperanza “A Certain Woman” Award went to Ms. Jennifer Sevilla Korn, the Director for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison at the U.S. Department of Justice. We also had glorious praise and worship from gospel artists Julissa, Ricardo Rodríguez, Jessica, and Roberto Orellana.

The morning of the Prayer Breakfast opened with a live musical celebration conducted by Coalo Zamorano and his band. With three-time Latin Grammy Award winner, Marcos Witt as the master of ceremonies, Prayer Breakfast participants anxiously awaited the entrance of the keynote speaker, President George W. Bush. This was his sixth and last appearance at the event as President of our nation. “For the past eight years, my administration has provided unprecedented support for the compassionate work performed by faith-based and community groups, because I understand this: government can hand out money, but government cannot put hope in a person's heart,” said President Bush during his speech. “Organizations like yours have shown the ability to save and change lives. And in your mercies of love and mercy, you must always have a strong and reliable partner in government”. To hear President Bush’s speech in its entirety, please CLICK HERE. In addition, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) addressed our group through a video message, as did Senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC), and Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC). Emotional prayers and beautiful musical performances by Julissa, Ricardo Rodríguez, Jessica, Roberto Orellana, and Marcos Witt completed our time together that morning.

Once more, the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference proved to be a wonderful and memorable event. Leaders from both political parties, Hispanic clergy and community leaders alike came together as one voice that rang loud and clear for three days in our nation’s capital. Rev. Cortés said it best when he stated “This year, more than ever, we have come together in a special way to pray, celebrate, and advocate for Hispanics everywhere.”