Friday, May 5, 2000

AISD gathers for fellowship, prayer
By Anna Voelker
Reporter-News Staff Writer

Cora Andrews started her Thursday like any other day — in prayer — although the format was a little different.

Andrews, Abilene State School’s secretary, attended her first-ever Abilene Independent School District Prayer Breakfast. Leading her table, Andrews prayed for the district and its students, governmental leaders and for rain.

Andrews said she depends on prayer each day. Despite U.S. Supreme Court rulings that deem unconstitutional prayer over the loudspeaker in public schools and at school-sponsored sporting events, it doesn’t prohibit students, teachers and school employees from praying on campus if they choose.

Fredda Rosenbaum, a Lee Elementary School third-grade teacher, said many prayer groups at Abilene schools’ campuses were formed as a result of the Prayer Breakfast.

While Thursday marked the National Day of Prayer, it also gave AISD employees and their families an opportunity to feed their minds, their souls and their spirits with prayer.

“The best part of (the breakfast) is the fellowship it fosters outside the breakfast,” said Rosenbaum, the creator of the event, which is in its sixth year.

Andrews added, “Each day (at the Abilene State School) is filled with those who come to school with prayer in their minds and in their hearts. Sometimes, I feel we could do what we did this morning every day and be united as a group.”

While there isn’t a prayer group in Andrews’ department at the State School, which serves people with disabilities, Andrews said it would be welcome. Despite the Supreme Court’s concerns about the separation of church and state, she supports prayer at sporting events and over the loudspeaker because of the “positive message” it sends.

“I remember as a child that’s what we did,” she said. “It made a difference in our values and what we think, knowing that there’s a Supreme Being.”

Superintendent Charles Hundley, the event’s keynote speaker, stressed the importance of prayer.

“A lot of people in America today — believers, Christian people who go to church at least occasionally — treat prayer as if it is the spare tire on the automobile of life,” Hundley said. “They plan and they organize and they work hard and do the best that they can in their life, and then when they don’t get what they want, they ask God to give it to them.

“The beginning to the life relationship with God for an individual and a healthy spiritual life is prayer. The Bible teaches us that God hears prayers and God answers prayers.”

Contact education writer Anna Voelker at 676-6738 or voelkera@abinews.com.

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