Liberty Hall Cathedral of Praise, located at 1387 East 96th Street, was packed with clergy leaders and other guests who attended the 3rd annual Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Consuming Fire Ministries International Inc. (CFMII), on Saturday, April 25th.
The prayers offered were as liberal as the breakfast served. “I pray that every part of it will do our bodies good,” Pastor Vivian McCalman, of Healing and Miracle Church International, stated, as he said grace. “I thank You that health and healing will grow from it,” he added, as he continued to thank God for His many blessings.
Other pastors took turns praying for church leaders and pastors, world peace, government and community, including elected officials. Rev. Roy Lamazon, of Destiny Tabernacle Assemblies of God Church, outstretched his arm toward State Senator Roxanne Persaud and called on all present to do the same, as he covered her with a special prayer.
The event also featured some entertainment. Several door prizes – consisting of prayer shawls and vials of anointing and prosperity oil – were won. Additionally, two generously packed gift baskets were raffled. Guests were also entertained by 15-year-old Love Lee, who sang Jonathan McReynold’s “No Gray,” which highlighted the inner conflict of many who attempt to live in both worlds, essentially serving two masters.
“You’re either with God or without Him,” Lee announced bravely. “It’s either black or white – no gray in between,” she added.
Her simple message was expounded on by keynote speaker, Bishop Dr. Cheryl Ault-Barker, a retired NYC Department of Education principal and current senior pastor of CFMII. Her sermon centered on “Walking in the New,” a theme she reinforced with the teaching in Isaiah 43:18-19. The bishop also used two receptacles – one containing clean water, the other dirty water, to illustrate her point and the repercussion of living (or trying to live) with darkness and light simultaneously. She demonstrated that when clean water was added to the container of dirty water, it remained dirty and, conversely, when dirty water was added to the clean water, the result was also dirty.
“New requires letting go of the old,” the bishop stated and cited II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” She emphasized, “New is a daily walk, not a one-time event,” and gave as an example, those who attend service on Sunday, get totally immersed in it, but demonstrate completely different behavior on Monday. She urged everyone to remain on the right track with God.
Before her message ended, Ault-Barker called for all in need of additional prayers to approach the dais where she also laid hands on them individually. The event concluded with her saying an extra closing prayer of thanks and signing copies of her latest book, “Unity in Diversity: An Expository Study of Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Church.”
