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Prayer breakfast

Weekly ritual brings men of different beliefs together

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  • Brandon Leonard •
  • Originally published January 23, 2009 at 5:31 p.m., updated January 23, 2009 at 5:31 p.m.

James McClane looks forward to Wednesdays. He has for more than 25 years now.

But the eggs, bacon and coffee of Ramsey's Restaurant are not what keeps him coming back from week to week. Prayer does.

"This restaurant has given us a place for more than 20 years now," McClane said.

The 77-year-old Victoria man attends a weekly prayer breakfast from 7 to 8 a.m. Wednesdays at Ramsey's. Three other men regularly join him.

The group's size was larger for a period of time, however.

"At one time, 20 to 25 folks were coming," McClane said.

Ramsey's waitress Sherrie Blank remembered those days.

The restaurant's staff closed off the back section of the restaurant because there were so many people.

At that time, the prayer group did more than pray and eat breakfast. They also sang hymns and choruses and shared their faith with one another.

Everyone having the opportunity to share their faith is an unique aspect of the group, McClane said.

"One thing we did - because we are from different faiths - we agreed to unify under Christ," McClane said.

Now, even with just four members, a variety of perspectives are still represented.

McClane is "in between" churches, he said. He attended Baptist and Assembly of God churches in the past.

Alan Bucek, 75, goes to Northside Baptist Church, while Raymond Smith, 82, attends Fellowship Bible Church.

The group's fourth and youngest member, 69-year-old John Markovsky, goes to Holy Family Catholic Church.

The members of the group do not argue about differences in theology. Instead, each member listens to the other, with the intent of learning from another's experiences and strengthening their personal faith.

"Our interest is in faith," Smith said. "And we just have that common bond."

Just because their personal faith differed, McClane said, it didn't mean they couldn't help each other grow in faith.

"We've just felt like it was something that Jesus was blessing," McClane said. "Sharing what's happened in our lives helps other people."

The group also helps others with more than just prayer.

The prayer ministry has donated to different needs they hear about while dining at the restaurant and comfort customers struggling with the death of a relative.

"We felt like that's been a ministry that we've been able to accomplish," McClane said.

  • IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN

    What: Men's prayer group

    When: 7 to 8 a.m. Wednesdays

    Where: Ramsey's Restaurant, 1403 N. Navarro St. in Victoria



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