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Summer 2025
5th Annual CLF Legacy Golf Tournament
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Fall 2025
24th Annual Charleston Leadership Prayer Breakfast
Thursday, November 20, 2025
24th Annual Charleston Leadership Prayer Breakfast Thursday, November 20, 2025
Sponsorships, Tickets & Tables on sale Click Here.
Click Here to watch the 2024 Prayer Breakfast Video featuring Alisa Childers
Find out more about being a sponsor of the Charleston Leadership Foundation and its events.
Click here to submit a prayer request or schedule a prayer appointment.
Shortly after Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg took office in 2016, he reached out to several pastors for counsel…
Click here to read the full story on the Post & Courier Website.
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How Can 16 years Go So Fast?
I remember selling my company in Philadelphia and moving to Charleston in late 2000. My wife, Lynn and I were married in Columbia but it didn’t seem the right place for us to retire. My plans were to learn to play the piano, paint and to play golf… and I did. But in the summer of 2001 I felt something missing from my life. I enjoyed the things I had pursued but was not fulfilled or very exceptional at any of them. One day I read an article in the Post and Courier talking about racial disparity in our city. I thought about the Philadelphia Annual Prayer Breakfast that I had participated in and some of the successful projects that had evolved from the breakfast. Many of the projects were joint ventures from the black and white communities teaming up. While they did not solve all of the problems in the city they certainly made a big dent.
I had heard Mayor Riley speak on several occasions and knew he had a reputation as someone that had bridged the gap between races. I approached the Mayor with the idea and he thought it would be great for the city. (1st God thing). The mayor gave me names of people (Maj General John Grinalds, Pat McKinney, Grange Cuthbert, Kitty Robinson, L Michael Grant, Dr. Allan Rashford, and Terry Seabrook) (2nd GOD thing) that he felt were leaders in the community that could help to bring the idea of a Prayer Breakfast to fruition. We both agreed that the initial group should be comprised of black, white, male, female, liberal, and conservative. Read More
Our first breakfast was in 2002 held at the Citadel. I hoped we could get 200 but low and behold 400+ showed up. Our biggest worry was the fire department because we were over the rooms capacity for sure.
The board and I had to try to do most of the lifting on that 1st breakfast but I knew that if we were to continue to grow it would require more help. Out of the blue Fred Whittle, COO of Jupiter Holding, volunteered to help with the details. (3rd GOD thing). Fred helped to take most of the load for the next 9 years until something had to give due to the growth of the breakfast and the sheer complexity of it.
When Fred and I were at our limits an angel appeared in the form of Kathryn Krogh. Kathryn had been looking for an opportunity to serve God and put to use her talents. This was truly a marriage made in heaven. (4th GOD thing). Can you believe at our hour of need someone appeared out of the blue with serious capabilities in administration, graphic design and a heart for our Lord. Kathryn helped us build the infrastructure of the Charleston Leadership Foundation that will take us to a new level.
Now, I loved the breakfast from the excitement of opening the mail and seeing a check from an unexpected sponsor, table leader, a new ticket holder to just walking into the convention center the morning of the breakfast and being overwhelmed by the sheer size of the room. I felt this is something I could do forever.
However age has a way of changing things. Looking at what is best for the breakfast I made the decision to begin looking for a potential successor. Fred Whittle was the first thought in mind but Fred quickly rejected that idea! We reviewed a lot of candidates over a period on 2+ years. But could not find someone willing to take a job where the salary was $0 or they did not have the time to allocate to the job or they were not free of conflicts.
Bob Nuttall, President of Lee & Associates, had been a long time supporter of CLF’s annual breakfast. I knew Bob loved the Lord and decided to ask him and, praise God, he expressed a strong interest for an opportunity to better serve the Lord. Bob reviewed our information and accepted the opportunity to replace me as President (5th GOD thing). Bob shadowed me for a year and the transition was completed at the 16th annual prayer breakfast held on November 9th, 2017. (As a footnote the 16th breakfast was the most successful ever and can be tributed to Bob Nuttall, Kathryn Krogh, Exec Director, and Fred Whittle, CFO and Byron Davis, Music Committee).
I have been honored to serve along with the members of our board and our staff who have become my best friends. The sponsorship by major companies has been overwhelming. I am thankful for the continued support of our table leaders which many of them have attended all of the last 16 breakfasts. The organizations we have helped directly and indirectly in their startups have included Be A Mentor, Lowcountry Orphan Relief, Lifeworks and God in the Workplace. These organizations have surpassed any expectations and are continuing to thrive today.
I want to thank everyone involved for their tremendous support and the gifts I was presented with at the 16th breakfast. It was the most amazing experience of my life and I will remember it forever.
I want to wish all a Blessed Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Your servant in Christ,
Jerry Young
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In advance of the 16th annual Charleston Leadership Prayer Breakfast this week, The Post and Courier recently asked readers to share their thoughts, in 100 words or fewer, about how faith and racial reconciliation go hand in hand.
Click Here for the Post and Courier Article
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Check out this great article online at the Post & Courier about Quiana, our Prayer Breakfast Speaker this year on Nov. 9th, 2017!
Everyone has influence and the ability to create positive change. When you improve your leadership, you impact lives, churches, businesses, governments, schools and families. PDF Flyer TGLS2017MainFlyer.pdf
Speakers Include:
BILL HYBELS Founder & Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church | JULIET FUNT CEO, Whitespace at Work | IMMACULEE ILIBAGIZA Advocate for Peace and Forgiveness; Best-selling Author | SHERYL SANDBERG Chief Operating Officer, Facebook | MARCUS LEMONIS Star of CNBC’s The Profit; CEO of Camping World and Good Sam | GARY HAUGEN Founder & CEO, International Justice Mission | MARCUS BUCKINGHAM Best-selling Author; Founder, The Marcus Buckingham Company | ANGELA DUCKWORTH Professor, University of Pennsylvania; Best-selling Author | FREDRIK HAREN Author; Business Creativity Expert | BRYAN STEVENSON Founder & Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative | LASZLO BOCK Senior Advisor, Google; Best-selling Author | ANDY STANLEY Leadership Author; Communicator; Pastor
Join 400,000 people around the world for two days of world-class leadership training.
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The richness of God’s Word can be overwhelming to those just starting out. To veterans of studying the Bible, there’s a clear acceptance of lifelong learning from God’s treasure trove that makes the Bible not only the primary guide to living but also God’s revealing of Himself, His ways and His love for each and every child He has ever created.
What about for those of us in the middle? We’re not scholars, but we’re not beginners, either. Recently a new friend shared something he had heard on Catholic Radio: “Spiritual hunger is different from physical hunger. When we’re hungry and we eat something, we’re usually satisfied and our appetite is appeased. When we hunger spiritually and we find and take in spiritual nutrition, it leaves us wanting more.”
That’s the best description John Carroll knows for his relationship with that single book in the Bible known as Proverbs. His day isn’t complete without reading what he refers to as the Proverbs Chapter of the Day. Combine that with his vocation as strategist and growth expert in helping executives and organizations be more productive, more profitable and have more fun and you get an insatiable desire to connect God’s wisdom for living with the everyday challenges, large and small, of working in a way that glorifies and pleases the Lord.
In John’s short presentation, you’ll find practical tips, relevant stories and God’s insight that can be applied to just about anything you might encounter in the workplace. John reports that as of this notice, the Holy Spirit isn’t quite done with the download of what exactly will be covered, so rather than promise one thing and deliver another, why not plan to attend and find out firsthand?
John Carroll is a strategist and growth expert, a national award-winning columnist, author, executive coach and serial entrepreneur. He helps executives and organizations become more productive, more profitable and have more fun. John is one of only 20 professionals worldwide recognized by peers for his work in consulting with emerging growth companies. John has worked with sales professionals, executives and entrepreneurs in businesses, trade groups and charitable organizations.
An accomplished and engaging speaker, he has been internationally recognized for Sales and Facilitation Excellence. His approaches have attracted attention globally, including articles appearing in Chief Executive China magazine.
A national award-winning columnist, John is also the author of Sales Illustrated: 68 Sales Lessons from Everyday Life (available in three languages). His columns have appeared regularly through the years in The Charleston Regional Business Journal and The Catholic Miscellany.
With firsthand experience in manufacturing, distribution and service industries, he is a true entrepreneur, having launched or helped to launch seven organizations, one of which was recognized in the Emerging 10, the 10 fastest growing businesses in the Charleston region. John serves as professor for Communication Skills Training through Our Community Listens and CharlestonListens. John is president of Unlimited Performance, Inc., a member of the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce.
John is also the first layperson to serve on the Clergy Personnel Advisory Board of the Diocese of Charleston. He is the founding board chair and a current board member of Camp Rise Above, providing summer camp experiences for children with special medical needs. He is a founding board member of Lowcountry Local First and has served as board president of the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center and president of what is now the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. John is a current board member of LifeWorks Charleston and the Harbour Club and active in several ministries at Christ Our King Church in Mount Pleasant. He is the father of two grown daughters, Grandpa of one little one and lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife Lori.
Brown studied interpersonal communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while on an athletic scholarship. His greatest accomplishment at North Carolina was meeting the love of his life and wife, Dr. Tay Brown. After he graduated in 2005, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
As a free agent in 2009, Jason signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Rams, served three years, and was released in March 2012. With several lucrative offers on the table from the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and the San Francisco 49ers, Jason decided instead to take a leap of faith and walk away from the NFL.
Jason moved back to North Carolina and purchased a 1,000-acre farm in Louisburg. 2014 turned out to be a breakthrough year for First Fruits Farm. The farm hosted the first annual youth fishing derby, hosted graduated students from NC State University, and collaborated with many faith and service organizations. The Brown’s farm has yielded more than 200,000 lbs of produce which were given to food pantries and churches throughout the Triangle Area. Thousands of volunteers have lent helping hands through gleaning and harvest events.
In his work through Wisdom for Life Ministries and the First Fruit Farm, Jason and his wife Tay, are demonstrating how to live a life of purpose. Jason serves as a great example of community development through agriculture.
Alisa Childers – Keynote Speaker for 2024
May 18, 2024
View Video Here Alisa Childers is the author of the bestselling book, Another Gospel?, in which she describes the years-long journey she took as she wrestled with questions that struck at the core of the Christian faith and found the truth. Her new book is called The Deconstruction of Christianity, which analyzes and responds to Continue Reading »
Photos from 2022 Prayer Breakfast Posted…
January 2, 2023
Check out all of the photos from the prayer breakfast this year. Thank you to VanessaK and Hunter Gatling for taking wonderful photos! Click Here.
