[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 186 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE EUROPEAN PRAYER BREAKFAST'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. GARY J. PALMER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2022

  Mr. PALMER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 25th anniversary 
of the European Prayer Breakfast. In honor of this milestone, I offer 
this brief history of the breakfast and its initial beginnings.
  In 1996, Prince Nikolaus von Liechtenstein co-hosted a prayer group 
in his home of senior political, diplomatic, and NATO leaders of 
Europe, along with Sir Paul Petrie. The group met weekly in his dining 
room in Brussels, Belgium, for over a year in rich fellowship and 
mutual sharing of scripture, focused on and around, the Person of 
Jesus. Deep relationships between the participants in this small group 
were formed as a result.
  At the end of a year, one of the group suggested that there were 
others in Brussels who would enjoy and benefit from a similar 
experience. As a result, an invitation to others from the same spheres 
of responsibility was issued to attend a Saturday breakfast.
  Nearly 100 attended this by-invitation-only event in 1997. They 
shared their unique stories with one another and were greatly 
encouraged. Following the gathering, the participants were asked if 
they would be interested in continuing to meet. With their approval, 
the participants sent out initiations to 157 people, and 155 accepted.
  This 1st annual European Prayer Breakfast was held in 1997. Prince 
Nikolaus moderated in 4 languages in French, Dutch, German, and 
English. Prayers were offered and scriptures read in all 4 languages. 
The Honorable Georgina Dufoix, then the French Minister of the Interior 
under President Mitterrand, shared her testimony in French, simply and 
powerfully.
  At its conclusion, people were so moved that there was weeping among 
many. After closing in unison with The Lord's Prayer in 28 different 
languages simultaneously, no one moved. There was such a powerful 
presence evident among them.
  When the group was later asked . . . ``Would you like to do this 
again?'' There was a universal agreement . . . . Yes.
  Thus began the European Prayer Breakfast of European diplomats, 
elected officials, military officials, and friends in Brussels, 
Belgium.
  Sometime later Paul Petrie began to collaborate with Doug Coe, a 
coordinator of the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. 
Doug offered Paul the opportunity to invite European members of 
Parliament and others to the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast in 
Washington, DC, and so began the relationship of mutual encouragement.
  As the European Prayer Breakfast continued, Paul, Prince Nikolaus and 
others received requests from multiple European National 
Parliamentarians to receive invitations to the Brussels event and they 
came by the dozens, then hundreds. This would bring many requests to 
help start similar events in National Parliaments across Europe.
  In each case Paul would visit the respective country's capital and 
encourage the initial step to be a weekly prayer gathering for a year, 
in preparation for the larger event. The group would consist of like-
minded followers of Jesus from political, diplomatic, and 
administrative roles, with an intentional effort to include opposing 
political parties. This smaller, weekly group who would pray, study 
scripture, and develop personal relationships, long before initiating a 
larger gathering. The inclusion of opposing political parties into a 
small weekly group would become a foundational principle of the prayer 
breakfast, in every location.
  Today there are 40 smaller prayer groups across Europe who gather in 
the same spirit, to study and discuss the teachings of Jesus, and to 
pray.
  It was in 2002 that, at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, 
DC, that Paul Petrie, along with friends Dennis Coll, Bill Hightower 
and others, would organize the European Suite & Dinner. Here, European 
political leaders would come together during the week of the U.S. 
National PrayerBreakfast to mutually share and encourage one another. 
Subsequently, Paul Petrie would host the European Prayer Breakfast 
Leader's dinner at the Stanhope Hotel in Brussels during the week of 
the European Prayer Breakfast.
  In 2017, Paul Petrie was knighted into the Ancient Order of St. 
George, by His Royal and Imperial Highness The Archduke Karel Van 
Hapsburg of Austria, for his ``30 years of influence for the Kingdom of 
God upon European Royal Families, Governments, and Parliaments.''
  Subsequently he was granted an Honorary Doctorate from Asbury 
Theological Seminary for his work to extend the message of Jesus to 
others.
  The spirit of the European Prayer Breakfast has been extended to many 
countries since its inception. The Israeli Knesset was one of those 
places. The Israeli-Christian Caucus came to visit the European Prayer 
Breakfast in Brussels, and subsequently made the decision, with the 
support of Israeli President at the time, Ruven Rivlen, to initiate the 
Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in 2016, of which Paul Petrie was a Founding 
Member. It continues today.
  It is with deep appreciation that this proclamation is offered in 
honor of Prince Nikolaus von Leichtenstein and Sir Paul Petrie, for 
their profound positive effect upon this movement across Europe, and 
for their deep and abiding friendship for over a quarter of a century.

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