A host of dignitaries, community leaders and public personnel gathered Tuesday morning for the 15th annual Mayors Prayer Breakfast, where they shared expressions of faith and listened to a message from Dr. Sean Campbell of Samaritan’s Purse.

Campbell has travelled through much of the Middle East with Samaritan’s Purse Canada, as an executive director and advocate. He is the senior director for Strategic Initiatives. Campbell took time to share of his experiences when he felt closest to God and to explain how he had grown in his faith and through humanitarian efforts over the years.

“In Afghanistan, we didn’t know who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. It was a complex time and I learned that it just wasn’t that easy. (Those experiences) and a proverb helped me learn one of the great lessons I learned in life – it’s important to get things right, you can’t be hasty and miss the way.

“I’m getting older. I have seen a lot of disaster and a lot of struggling and I have learned that it is not what is outside that’s so important. It’s inside what matters. I hope that people here can take the time to develop your character and skills we can teach and share.”

Campbell spoke about his travels through places like Iran, Afghanistan and Calcutta, where he witnessed the power of giving back and coming together for the best interests of a community. He shared detailed stories of times when he felt lost in his faith and how he used those challenging times to find strength.

He shared his experiences of being humbled by meeting Mother Teresa with an anecdote of how a small action of kindness – in his story, a water drop – can come together with other small acts of kindness to fill an ocean. He urged breakfast attendees to share themselves with their community and offer themselves up to make a better life for those around them.

“In all of your work, in all that you do, my prayer for you this morning is that you know that God follows you and brings you peace,” he said.

kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com