Photo by Eric Ayres Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder, guest vocalist Lola Anderson, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce President Kurt Zende and guest speaker Mike Hatch pose Wednesday morning in the Capitol Theatre Ballroom following the inaugural Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast.

WHEELING — Scores of community leaders joined together this week united in faith for the inaugural Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast presented by the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce.

The first-of-its kind event featured a keynote address by Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder. The Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast took place in the Capitol Theatre Ballroom — the same venue where Magruder took the oath of office on July 1 last year.

Chamber President Kurt Zende said he has known Magruder for 30 years and has worked with him on numerous projects in the community over the decades.

“He was and still is one of my mentors,” Zende said of Magruder, who he introduced as “Wheeling’s biggest cheerleader” to those on hand. “When he called me a while back and said he was about to run for mayor, he asked me about my thoughts on what was the biggest issue the city faced. And I said, ‘Denny, we need God back in the city.’ He said, ‘Kurt, I was thinking the same thing.'”

Magruder noted that leaning on faith can provide people with strength to face the challenges of everyday life. Each city council meeting begins with a prayer, Magruder said, adding that those who pray do so not only to seek guidance from a higher power but also to express gratitude

“There’s something deeply powerful about coming together in prayer,” Magruder said. “It’s a reminder that we’re not alone, that we share each other’s joys and challenges, and that together — with faith — we can overcome anything.”

The mayor asked that everyone reflect on the blessings in their lives.

“Sometimes they come in quiet moments of peace or in support we receive from loved ones,” he said. “Sometimes the blessings come in the form of challenges that — when faced with faith — grow our resilience and draw us closer to one another.”

Everyone can make a difference in their world and in the world around them, Magruder said.

“It doesn’t always have to be grand,” he said. “Often the smallest acts of love and kindness have the greatest impact. A word of encouragement, a listening ear, a helping hand … can change someone’s day, and perhaps even their life.”

Wednesday’s event features food and fellowship, with Chef Adam Luiso of Chef & Company providing breakfast, Chick-Fil-A at The Highlands providing coffee and tea and guest vocalist Lola Anderson, a senior at St. Clairsville High School, providing musical entertainment through inspirational songs.

Steadfast Seminars and City Mission also offered displays, and there was no shortage of prayers during the Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast. Pastor Chris Figaretti of Newbridge Church delivered a prayer for national and international leaders; Mike Howard, chief operating officer for the chamber offered a prayer for local businesses, first responders and health care workers; Chamber Marketing Director Brooke Anderson delivered an impromptu prayer for business and civic leaders in the room; and special guest speaker Mike Hatch offered a prayer for local and state leaders.

Hatch, a graduate of St. Clairsville High School, now works and resides in the Pittsburgh area. He is the founder and president of Redemptive Economics LLC. An executive coach and chapter president for Truth At Work, Hatch was schooled and trained in theology. A pastor at large, he is a podcaster and an author whose lead role today is guiding executive roundtables for Christian business owners, entrepreneurs and executives.

“If you are in leadership, you’re in a very tenuous, vulnerable position,” Hatch said. “You’re susceptible to compromise, to greed, to lust. This is of course why you would want someone with integrity and strong character to take on leadership roles. But that’s not always the case.”

Pointing to the 2012 book “Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder” by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Hatch suggested that sometimes strength is the product of disorder. He openly shared his history as a recovering addict and encouraged everyone to be open about their weaknesses, embrace accountability and seek redemption. This practice through faith-based leadership will help bolster the strength of a person’s foundation and diminish exposure to their vulnerabilities, he indicated.

“This silly false dichotomy that there’s ministry in charity and nonprofit over here and then greedy, selfish business corporate world over here is wrong and unbiblical,” Hatch said, noting that leadership in business can be a channel for sharing blessings with others and with the community. In fact, using biblical principles can lead to great success in business, he offered.

Howard closed the session recounting a memory from 2001, noting that following the Sept. 11 attacks, he was invited to appear on local television to talk about faith in the wake of the historically tragic event. He read a scripture live on the 6 p.m. news broadcast — something he guessed probably hasn’t happened since them.

“Because in our deepest need, we turn to the Lord,” Howard said. “But unfortunately, we forget that our deepest need doesn’t just happen once every decade — it’s every morning that we wake up.”