Family Life

02.02.12 | Sarah Harnisch

The President and First Lady marked the 60th Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. this morning. More then 35-hundred dignitaries from over 200 countries gathered to pray for America, including the winner of the Heissman Trophy, the winner of the Nobel Prize, and 11-year-old singer Jackie Evancho.  The keynote speaker was New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi read about the story of Solomon. She ended by saying "may the message of this reading be that we have the humility to ask God for what pleases Him, so that we can do His work."

The President gave his speech around 9:15 a.m. He said the reason he's so focused on the poor is because God gave him the responsibility in Proverbs to "speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves." The President said the Bible teaches us to be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers, and to have a living, breathing, active faith. For the wealthy to give up tax breaks, he said he's just following the scriptural mandate: “to whom much is given, much shall be required.” And he touted the White House's faith-based initiative. He said since he's been in office, they've expanded the program, and he's partnered with Catholic Charities, World Vision, American Jewish World Service, and started an Interfaith Campus Challenge. The President said he's linking arms with faith-based groups across the country.