Southeast Ventura County YMCA
Thousand Oaks, Calif—Cody Jones a Paralympic javelin thrower for Team USA, is the keynote speaker for the Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s 19th Annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast, Thursday, May 3. Breakfast will be served at 7:00 a.m. with the program running from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at CLU’s Gilbert Sports Center in Thousand Oaks. The theme for the morning is “Pray for America–Unity.”
Jones, born with left-hemiplegic cerebral palsy, had wanted to play baseball since he was four years old and watched his dad’s softball games. Since he couldn’t use his left arm, he learned to catch and throw the ball with his right arm. He eventually played on the Simi Valley High School baseball team and then made the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Team—this time throwing a javelin and discus. Jones competed in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and is now training for Tokyo 2020. He is a motivational speaker and travels throughout the country spreading his inspirational message.
Jones received much support from his family and coaches throughout his early years and athletic career. “Building people up and encouraging them has a lasting effect in people’s lives,” says Jones. “It is important to bring people of all faiths together in an event like this because we can’t build each other up if we are living in a faith bubble.”
The Southeast Ventura County YMCA prayer breakfast is one of the largest in Ventura County attracting over 350 attendees. Spiritual and community leaders will provide invocations and prayers. Singing at the breakfast will be the Oaks Christian Choir.
“The YMCA’s mission centers on building strong and engaged communities,” says John Bradley, prayer breakfast committee chair. “Faith is an essential part of the fabric of our community. The Y encourages and enhances each person’s faith, while bringing our entire community together to celebrate and inspire healthy living of the mind, body and spirit.”
Prayer breakfast sponsors include the Ventura County Community Foundation, California Lutheran University, Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Mortuary & Crematory, Oaks Christian School, New Hope Lutheran and Waddel & Reed.
Tickets are $20 each. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more details, contact Ally Barron at the YMCA, 805-497-3081, Ex. 102,[email protected]. Prayer breakfast tickets are available on Eventbrite (www.prayerbreakfastymca.eventbrite.com).
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