World Olivet Assembly staff joined local leaders and community members at the 13th Annual Dutchess County Leadership Prayer Breakfast on May 5 at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, New York. The event brought together pastors, county officials, business leaders, educators, first responders, students, and believers from many churches for a morning centered on prayer.
The program theme was “Prayer Changes Us.” Speakers shared Scripture, personal testimony, music, and prayer for the county. Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino greeted the gathering and spoke about the important role people of faith have in bringing hope and unity to the community. Alexander Glas read Psalm 113 and shared how God led him through his life journey and brought him to faith in Jesus Christ.
Two personal testimonies gave the morning a deep and heartfelt tone. Sarah Leonard shared about grief, trauma, and the healing power of Jesus after the loss of her son and his father in a fire. Matthew Nathan shared how prayer and faith in Christ changed his marriage, family, and life. Their honest stories showed how God meets people in deep pain and brings new life through His grace.
The breakfast was a reminder that the church is strengthened when believers gather, pray, and testify together. World Olivet Assembly gives thanks for Dutchess County’s faithful Christian community and for the chance to join this annual time of prayer. The staff felt blessed to hear how God is working in many lives and was especially encouraged by Charlie Cornacchio’s message. He shared how God guided his life through many unexpected turns, including his adoption, family life, career changes, and the meeting with his biological mother. His testimony reminded the audience that even painful setbacks can become part of God’s loving plan, and that believers can trust the Lord’s purpose even when they do not yet understand the reason.
The morning closed with a prayer by G. Angela Henry, who asked the Lord to help everyone carry the love and blessings of the gathering into the world. She thanked Jesus for courage, support, wisdom, and the bonds that connect believers through His love.
World Olivet Assembly staff were thankful to attend the prayer breakfast and join the county’s public expression of faith. They listened to the testimonies with deep gratitude and were reminded again that God works through prayer, fellowship, and honest witness. The staff also joined in prayer for county leaders and for the needs of families and communities throughout the region.
“It is always a blessing to participate in the annual prayer breakfast,” one staff reflection shared. “World Olivet Assembly feels especially blessed to be part of a county where faithful, Bible-believing Christians gather in this way to express faith publicly. There was a strong feeling of solidarity as brothers and sisters shared heartfelt testimonies, honest struggles, and stories of how the same faithful God came through and changed their lives for the better.”
World Olivet Assembly staff left the gathering with thankful hearts and renewed hope. The breakfast was not only a civic and community event, but also a reminder that prayer can bring believers together across churches, backgrounds, and life stories. It was a morning of encouragement, unity, and faith in Jesus Christ.