CLINTON - Nearly 200 people gathered early Wednesday morning for the 47th Annual Youth/Community Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Clinton Family YMCA, filling the sanctuary of Broad Street United Methodist Church for a message centered on faith, humility, and leadership.
Following a brief introduction by Clinton YMCA Chief Executive Officer Harold Nichols, guest speaker BJ Laughter addressed the crowd, which included members of the Clinton High School and Presbyterian College baseball teams, along with community leaders, students, and families from across the area.
Laughter challenged the youth of Clinton to become “servant leaders,” reminding them that true humility is not about diminishing oneself, but about placing others first.
“Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself,” Laughter said. “It’s thinking of yourself less.”
Building his message around Philippians 2:3, Laughter encouraged those in attendance to live with humility and to value others above themselves.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,” he said, quoting the scripture. “Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
Drawing on more than three decades of experience coaching and mentoring young athletes, Laughter spoke about the importance of character, teamwork, and leadership. He reminded the student-athletes in attendance that their greatest victories will not always be measured on a scoreboard, but in the example they set for others.
He encouraged the young people present to carry their faith beyond the field and into their everyday lives — in their schools, their friendships, and their communities.
The annual prayer breakfast has long been a Clinton tradition, bringing together students, educators, church members, and community leaders for a morning of encouragement, fellowship, and reflection.
For many of the athletes in attendance, the message served as a reminder that leadership is not defined solely by wins and losses, but by how they treat their teammates, their opponents, and the people around them.
Now in its 47th year, the Youth/Community Prayer Breakfast remains one of the longest-running traditions organized by the Clinton Family YMCA, continuing to unite faith, athletics, and community leadership while inspiring the next generation to lead with humility and service.
