North Alabama Legislative Prayer Breakfast
sponsored by Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
Governor Robert Bentley was
the first speaker for the 2011 North Alabama Legislative Prayer
Breakfast sponsored by Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist
Association.
Governor Bentley mentioned, as
he drove in to town from the airport, approaching Calhoun
Community College and looked at the Robotics center, he said
“there is nothing in the world like this, it is the most unique
entity in the world, where we can see all those robots,
different kinds used in industry all over the world, and
students here in north Alabama are being taught how to operate
them and how to work on them. It’s very unique and something to
be very proud of.”
He went on to say, “We are
here today about something that is extremely important in our
lives and that is prayer. Prayer is very important in my life,
and sometimes in my life as a born again Christian expressing my
beliefs, I get into trouble. But sometimes out of trouble comes
understanding, so, there were some good things out of my
boldness that came from when I stood and expressed my faith. I
gathered everyone the next day to try to make people realize, I
will die in support of everyone rights to worship as they choose
and as they believe. We will defend everyone’s right to worship
as they please. That is their right as a citizen of Alabama that
is what our constitution says. I raised my right hand last week
and swore I would uphold the constution of the United States and
the constitution of the state of Alabama. So I will work the
other faiths so we can understand each other better and always
work together.
In his closing remarks,
Governor Bentley said, “This is a beautiful part of the state,
Let’s get as many people into Alabama as we can, let’s let them
come, let’s welcome them, let’s shake their hands, let’s love
them , let’s let them spend their money, and let them go home.
Tourism is good clean money! “
After the Governor, there were
3 prayers given. The prayer of Thanksgiving was said by Bishop
Gary Taylor of Oakville Christian Faith Center in Moulton,
Alabama. Pastor Willie Byrd of Grace Baptist Church in Athens
gave the prayer for those who Serve. And Dana Lee Jennings,
President and CEO of Alabama Mountain Lakes lead the group in
the closing prayer.
A testimonial of how AMLA
works in their counties was given by Thereasa Hilgan and John
Dersham. A beautiful rendition of ‘Turn Your Radio On’ was given
by Billy Orton, Minister of Music and Worship at First Baptist
Church in Huntsville on the trombone and on the piano was
Elizabeth Hostetter, Associate Minister of Music and Organist.
The wonderful keynote speaker
was Phil Waldrep of Phil Waldrep Ministries. Waldrep gave an
enlightening explanation of what people appreciate and it is
quite simply “being appreciated.” People want to be valued and
be called by name. Love takes time to appreciate people, it is
not what they can do for us, that is not love, love appreciates
people that can do nothing for us. We also need to acknowledge
people; it is one thing to appreciate people but another to
acknowledge them. Failure to speak to someone is one of the best
ways to offend them, when you speak to someone or shake their
hand it says to them, “you are important to me,” it validates
them.
The Alabama Mountain Lakes
Tourist Association was formed in 1964 for the express purpose
of developing North Alabama’s travel industry and marketing the
region to the traveling public. Originally, there were only
eight counties and very few members. Today, AMLA serves sixteen
counties with an ever-expanding membership base representing
progressive travel-regulated businesses and associations as well
as various levels of government.
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist
Association - 25062 North Street, Mooresville, AL 35649 (256)
350-3500
alabamamountainlakes.org
