Hundreds attend prayer breakfast at YMCA

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Dr. Mark Labberton gave the keynote address at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA during the annual prayer breakfast event held at the location on Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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A large crowd came out to listen to Dr. Mark Labberton give the keynote address at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA during the annual prayer breakfast event held at the location on Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Chaplain Mark Yeager addresses the crowd gathered at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA during the annual prayer breakfast event held at the location on Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Singer Dennis Lamar, left, performed at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA during the annual prayer breakfast event held at the location on Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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By Matt Sanderson

Nov. 8, 2016 3:55 PM PT

More than 300 guests nearly filled the large gymnasium at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA in La Cañada early Thursday morning for the 27th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, where keynote speaker Dr. Mark Labberton spoke of the pressures of modern life.

Referring to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the Bible’s Book of Daniel, Labberton, president of Fuller Seminary, told those assembled that God is in control. “You have the freedom to live life unhooked,” he said.

Serving as the morning’s master of ceremonies was Chuck Osburn, associate pastor of congregational care and spiritual formation at La Cañada Presbyterian Church. Dennis Lamar, pastor of the Bridge Church in Pasadena, was the vocalist for the inspirational gathering.

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Mark Yeager, lead chaplain for the YMCA of the Foothills, the La Cañada Y’s umbrella organization, said funds raised at the annual breakfast go directly toward the organization’s chaplain services.

The program helps prepare those for disaster situations and educate them as to how to work with organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Teams and others.

“Chaplain services assist people with spiritual and mental health,” Yeager said. “We have a great community. I call it the leader of volunteerism.”

Sanderson is a contributor to Times Community News.