Trump International Hotel managers again will host the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast, reversing the previous cancelation of their contract to hold the Jan. 20 event, according to organizer Rev. Merrie Turner. Hotel representatives reinstated the contract with Turner Saturday, the day after the organizer hostess and her lawyer filed a $1 million lawsuit against the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) in U.S. Superior Court for the District of Columbia for interfering with a contract. The non-partisan, inter-denominational prayer breakfast dates back to 1993.
As reported by The Gospel Herald, the theme of the prayer breakfast is Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."
Turner reportedly filed the suit against the committee, not the Washington, D.C., hotel, because she believes PIC members pressured the hotel staff in December to cancel the contract she secured in September.
"I think there are elements that we'll never know for sure," Turner told The Daily Caller News Foundation, saying there was "collusion" between the hotel and the committee to force the event to be moved elsewhere.
The Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast was founded when Dr. Ruth Ward Heflin, of Mt. Zion Fellowship in Jerusalem, Israel, was inspired to host a prayer gathering of people of Christian faith to pray for the Office of the Presidency, and believe God for Spiritual Outpouring in America. Born in Richmond, Va., into a family of pioneers of the faith, Heflin traveled to every nation of the world to influence various kings and presidents. She also authored the book "Harvest Glory," and a song, "I Ask For America," which is a declaratory prayer of deliverance for the nation.
Working together with Heflin, Turner organized and directed the first two Inaugural Prayer Breakfasts in 1993 and 1997.
Turner said hotel representatives, who cited security concerns Dec. 28 when it canceled the contract, told her Friday night President-elect Donald Trump wouldn't be staying at the hotel the night of Inauguration Day as initially thought, eliminating the need for the hotel to be on lockdown.
But Turner, who said the disruption has cost time and resources, is not withdrawing her lawsuit against the inaugural committee, citing "additional costs, considerable embarrassment and emotional anguish."
Turner is a member of Faith Landmarks Ministries in Richmond, Va., and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
A pre-event worship will begin at 6 a.m. that morning, with special guests Joshua Mills, Terry MacAlmon and Kimberly and Alberto Rivera
This will be the Seventh Quadrennial Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast. It will be held in the new Presidential Ballroom of the 1891 American Landmark known as the Old Postal Pavilion. The Trump International Hotel houses the Bells of Congress in the Clock Tower and was chosen due to its historic importance, and is located between the White House and the U.S. Capitol. The hotel, which opened for business in September, already has been the subject of controversy. Protesters have demonstrated outside the building on Pennsylvania Avenue and graffiti was found sprayed on a wall.
Prayer initiatives for 2013's breakfast were: The president, his family and staff; the executive branch of the government; the legislative branch; the judicial branch; the military; the nation's business industry; the media; the nation's capitol; U.S. youth; and the nation's revival, a Great Awakening.
