Apopka prays: Rivers inspires prayer breakfast audience

Apopka prayed today.

They prayed with passion. They prayed with blood. They prayed with sweat. They prayed with tears. They prayed in the early morning hours and they prayed again in the heat of a spring afternoon with temperatures passing the 90-degree mark.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

John Rivers

And the Apopka Christian Ministerial Alliance and the South Apopka Ministerial Alliance took full advantage of the National Day of Prayer.

In Apopka, the coinciding events were the 11th Annual Apopka Mayor's Prayer Breakfast which is held at the Apopka Community Center/VFW at 6:30 in the morning. Then at noon the day of prayer moved to the steps of City Hall, and included members of the Apopka Fire and Police Departments.

Apopka Christian Ministerial Alliance President Darrell Morgan presided over both events and offered prayers for Apopka, its leaders, and the nation. Then a host of pastors took to the stage to pray for specific things.

Pastor Jimmy Siberio of the Oasis Assembly of God prayed for Apopka, Pastor James Hicks of Greater Faith World Center prayed for the nation, Pastor Ronda Reaves of the Calvary Church of the Nazarene prayed for schools and universities, Pastor Doug Bankson of the Victory Church World Outreach Center prayed for families, and Pastor Hezekiah Bradford, President of the South Apopka Ministerial Alliance and the Lead Pastor at St. Luke Gospel Baptist Church prayed for churches and ministries.

Morgan also welcomed the featured speaker John Rivers to the prayer breakfast.

Rivers spoke before an audience of over 400 people made up of local businesses, church groups, elected officials and the public. His inspiring message was one of passion, perseverance, and complete faith in God to steer any venture he pursues.

And Rivers has had his share of pursuits.

Retiring as president of a $1.5 billion dollar company, he left a career of twenty years in healthcare to chase his passion - owning a restaurant.

"I wanted to be a president and CEO because I wanted to make money," Rivers said. "But sometimes we don't end up following our passion...we just make a living. I realized I was missing something."

In 2009 Rivers opened 4 Rivers Smokehouse, which quickly became one of the fastest growing restaurants in the southeast. With 13 locations in Florida and one soon to open in Atlanta, the success and popularity of his 4 Rivers Smokehouse and his second concept, the Southern-inspired COOP, have garnered national recognition. Nation’s Restaurant News, the industry’s lead trade publication, recognized 4 Rivers as one of their top five breakout brands. Restaurant Business named him one of the Power 20 Leaders in the restaurant industry, Orlando Magazine included him among Orlando’s “50 Most Powerful, 15 to Watch” and in 2013, he was named a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

He explained his secret to success was making 4Rivers a God-centered endeavor.

"Every single one of us is given a gift by God," he told the audience. "And the only thing that can stop you is yourself. Fear does not come from God. When God steps in, you cannot fail. You have a purpose and God writes the plan. We had success at 4Rivers because we kept God at the center of the business."

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On the steps of City Hall, another legion of Apopka pastors prayed their hearts out for God, country, family, first responders, and America. Pastor Doug Bankson made a direct call to the heart in fact.

"Sometimes we can go through the motions at prayer events," he said. "But many times in the Bible there are situations where there is a cry from the heart. That's what God wants from us. Not duty, but heart. That's our Creator. The one who made those clouds. He wants to hear our heart."

Pastor Ronda Reaves expanded her morning prayer for schools and universities to include youth specifically.

"We pray to a living God and we ask that you bless the students," she said. "Our young people...our boys and girls. They learn about Jesus from us. We pray for peace and not violence on the streets. We pray for peace and not violence in our homes."

Mayor Joe Kilsheimer read a Day of Prayer Proclamation and then gave his thoughts about the ministries, pastors, and churches of Apopka.

"One of Apopka's greatest assets is the strength and vitality of the faith-based community," he said.

Those observations were never more on display than today.