SUMMERVILLE — Late. Again.
Thursday morning — dawn of the National Day of Prayer — Congressman Tim Scott recounted his Monday morning, running late for an interview with Fox News.
Addressing nearly 150 people gathered at Bethany United Methodist for the YMCA of Summerville's fifth annual prayer breakfast, Scott said his priorities came to order when he screeched to a halt on Charleston's Ravenel Bridge with the , in front of him.
For nearly a minute, he said, he was frustrated and harried. But then he heard a voice telling him to pray.
Scott wasn't alone in his prayers Monday, and he said it was a miracle the officer did not suffer much more than an injured neck.
That is the power of prayer, he said.
Scott was the keynote speaker at the breakfast, which according to organizers sets the tone for the National Day of Prayer.
"(The prayer breakfast) coincides with what we do," YMCA of Summerville CEO Gary Lukridge said. "It gets the National Day of Prayer off to the right start. We just want to bring people out for fellowship and good breakfast."
In previous years, keynote speakers have included former New York Yankee Bobby Richardson, Krispy Kreme founder John Morgan and former S.C. First Lady Jenny Sanford.
Three religious leaders spoke, sandwiching the congressman's speech with prayer.
Dr. Bob Howell of Bethany United Methodist prayed for the Summerville community.
"We pray that the secular creep that seems to be infecting our community may at least be stalled by you Grace," he said.
Described as a champion of Christian values at the breakfast, Scott fought to bring the 10 Commandments to Charleston County Council when he served as a councilman.
During his speech, he said he's "not interested" in the ecumenical aspects of the National Day of Prayer, and that the only way prayer works is to accept Jesus Christ as one's savior.
He told Patch that while there are some ecumenical gatherings for prayer, the day belonged to the Christian majority that is a part of the nation's Judeo-Christian founding.
Scott said prayer is needed at the nation's Capitol.
"The National Day of Prayer is time for Christians to bring forth the necessity of prayer in our nation," Scott told Patch. "It helps us focus on something besides our selves. It says it's not about you at all — it's about others and being close with our Risen Savior."
No, it was solid engineering and physics.