By Joseph L. Campos Jr.
Many gathered at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel to join together from various Christian Church denominations to pray for the fate and future of our state and country. This monumental event marked the 40th Prayer Breakfast in the City of Buena Park, and was hosted by our beloved Mayor, Virginia Vaughn. The festivities were headlined by former presidential candidate and religious freedom advocate Mike Huckabee, the Wimberly Bluegrass Band, and Pastor Don Harbert of The Way Fellowship Church.
Other local religious leaders that made guest appearances were Reverend Sean Hamilton of The Bridge Church, Reverend Matthew Agosto of The City Church, Reverend Mary Trainor of Saint Joseph Episcopal Church, Reverend Janet Berry of Mercy Vineyard Church, Reverend Jacob Woo Lee, and Reverend Joel Van Soelen of Anaheim Christian Reformed Church. Soelen also serves as Buena Park PD’s chaplain.
A lot of local business, corporations and venues also helped to sponsor the event, and helped make such a joyous occasion possible for the community. Porto’s Bakery and Restaurant provided the delicious breakfast for the gathering, while Knott’s Berry Farm, LCX Corporation, Brookhurst Towing, The Law Offices of Yohan Lee, West Coast Sand and Gravel, Premier Automotive, Simpson Buick and General Motors Company, The Holiday Inn Hotel, and many others also donated their funds, resources and talent to make the festivities possible.
The whole ceremony was marvelous with each pastor taking to the stage to each say a few prayers over the crowd of spectators, lending them positive advice, pearls of wisdom and comfort, after what was a very trying year for not only our state, but for our country. Powerful prayers were offered for President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Mike Huckabee’s daughter), Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Ron Helus and the victims of the Thousand Oaks shooting, as well as all of the victims of the fatal fires that have struck California as of late. Our local pastors then spoke, and declared prayers over our own local firefighters, police, paramedics, doctors and first responders.
“Faith and beliefs matter,” exclaimed Mayor Vaughn to an inspired and excited crowd. “In life the good experiences outweigh the bad. Christ does not discriminate. He bestows His blessings on those who believe in Him. I just want to pray for, and thank, all of our brave firefighters, police and first responders. In my last days as Mayor, I call on all of you to unify. Stop fighting and yelling at each other, and instead start listening. Practice faith in a positive way. Instead of hurting someone, go out and embrace them. Help them.”
Mayor Vaughn then quoted a Bible verse, which is also known as the golden rule: “Remember to treat others like how you would like to be treated,” she said. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
Mayor Vaughn would then continue, “Do all that you can to build the community. Remember that we have God watching over us. So may God bless you, may God bless Buena Park, and may God bless America.”
Pastor Matthew Agosto, of The City Church, then stepped up and delivered an amazing prayer before the audience.
He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray for unity of those who believe. I pray that they all become one, and that we learn to work together. I pray that we all step up and serve. I pray for divine protection from you, God, and your guardian angels, and for your help to fight the enemy, Satan, who comes to kill, steal and destroy.”
Such an inspiring display of faith was then utilized as a segue into some excellent tunes courtesy of the Wimberley Bluegrass Band. The band was made up of youngsters who were also siblings named Danielle, Mark, James and Michael. The siblings meshed well together, and belted out some great classic hymns.
The group surprised everyone by calling on Huckabee to play music with them. Huckabee went up, tuned his electric guitar, and proceeded to jam with the band to some more gospel hits.
Soon after, Huckabee took to the podium to address the Orange County crowd. He opened up his speech by warmly joking that, “People used to report all of my accomplishments that I have had since high school. Now they just say that I am Sarah’s dad….I always dreamed of getting a Huckabee into the White House; I just didn’t think that Sarah would have been the one.”
Things took on a more serious tone as Huckabee discussed faith, our country’s moral compass, recent events and the future of America. Governor Huckabee commended the bravery of Buena Park Mayor Virginia Vaughn for valiantly asking him to come down to our neck of the woods.
“Mayor Virginia Vaughn took a very big risk by asking me to come here to speak to you all,” he said, as liberal protesters started to gather outside the venue. “I want to thank her for inviting me here anyway. I know that my politics and beliefs may be controversial, but today is not about politics. It is not about me or us. It is not about right or left or conservative, liberal, Republican or Democrat. It is about something greater than all of us. It is about Jesus Christ.”
