May 15, 2025 • 9 mins
T.W. Francescon is Senior Director of Alumni Culture & Engagement with The McCallie School, and he also Chairs the Committee for the Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast Team. The event is Tuesday, May 22nd at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Along with prayer for our community and for our leaders; this year, the featured speaker is former Major League Baseball Player and World Series Champion, Darryl Strawberry. CLICK HERE for tickets or for more information.
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S1 (00:03):
PT Franciscan is a senior director of alumni culture and
Engagement at the McCallie school. He also chairs the committee
for the Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast. He leads that team,
and he likes me best. T.w. Great to have you
with us here this morning.
S2 (00:17):
Thank you so much, Tom and Toby. It's an honor
to be with you all this morning. So grateful for y'all's.
For your partnership. The Chattanooga leadership prayer breakfast.
S1 (00:26):
Yeah. Thank you so much for that. And, T.W., I
can't believe it's next Tuesday already. It is almost here.
But let me take you back in time just a
little bit. Give us a little bit of the history
of the prayer breakfast and maybe some things of note
that we need to know.
S2 (00:40):
Sure. Um, back in 1977, um, God gave the vision
to a group of individuals to start a prayer breakfast
in the Chattanooga area. And then in 1978, February of
1978 was the first prayer breakfast. Uh, Chuck Colson was
our first our first speaker. And it's a time where
(01:02):
men and women and students are able to gather together,
really with two purposes to pray for our community and
its leaders and to hear the personal story, um, of
of of a leader this year happens to be Darryl
Strawberry for the baseball fans. Darryl Strawberry was a major
League Baseball player and World Series champion. So we're really excited.
(01:24):
And over the years we've had people in business, we've
had people in, um, politics. We've had people in athletics
to to speak and share their personal, personal testimony of faith.
S3 (01:36):
Okay. Thank you so much. T.W. mentioned our partnership. We
thank you for being so committed to this through the years.
And I didn't I didn't remember that it was Chuck
Colson who was the first speaker. That is amazing. And
that has set the tone all this time. But how
do you select your speakers?
S2 (01:55):
Great question. Toby. Uh, a lot of prayer. We start
praying really years in advance for who the Lord is
calling to, to serve as our speakers in future years.
We try to to line up the speaker about a
year in advance so we can share at the end
of the prayer breakfast. Next year's date and speaker. And
sometimes God gives us that person, sometimes that not. But
(02:16):
he has chosen the speakers over the years. And and
we intentionally do not ask pastors and ministry leaders. This
is really a lay event where we're wanting people in
the business world, or in education, or in medicine, or
in sports or in politics to be able to to
lead us. And therefore, we've got leaders who are provide
(02:36):
prayers and scripture readings and music and then and then
and then the main speaker. So we actually it was
about ten years ago when I read an article about
Darryl Strawberry, and I thought, how cool would it be
for him to be our speaker one day? And then
God worked it out last year for him to, uh,
to commit to serving as this year's speaker. So we're
(02:57):
really excited about this year.
S1 (02:59):
Yeah, I'm excited as well. I'm a Darryl Strawberry fan.
Not just from his time in baseball, but just the
way that he's overcome life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I can't wait to hear that story, but let me
ask a follow up question as to what Toby said.
As far as how are the speakers chosen? I need
to ask the next question. How are the reserve speakers chosen?
Because there's somebody in reserve just in case something happens. Uh,
(03:23):
and the speaker isn't able to make it? I know
a couple of years ago that actually was the case. So.
So how do you choose that person?
S2 (03:31):
Well, it's very similar. We pray a lot, and our
team prays about who is, again, who he wants to
be a part of. Every aspect of the morning, including
our backup speaker, is probably the hardest position, because the
backup speaker has to be ready to speak, and knowing
that that they may not get called on to do that.
And you're exactly right. In 2022, um, our speaker got
(03:52):
Covid and Joseph Wingfield, uh, stepped in and did a
phenomenal job sharing his story. We had such great responses.
In fact, several said, oh, we ought to have we
ought to have more local speakers. But Joseph did a
great job. So we have a we've had a backup
speaker for many years in case there are travel delays or,
or any conflicts. So therefore we have someone who is
(04:14):
who's ready to to speak that morning.
S1 (04:16):
Okay. Can I I have to do a follow up here.
I feel like like you've got the spotlight on you
right now. We had the privilege of chatting with Joseph
last year in preparation for last year's prayer breakfast. And
he said that there there's actually a backup to the
backup because like, when Joseph showed up, he saw you
on the phone with somebody. He said, nope, you're off
the hook. He's here. So there was somebody else in
(04:38):
your back pocket that's available as well.
S2 (04:42):
Well, that year we did, you know, got noticed, I
think Sunday night, um, before the prayer breakfast that he
had Covid. So, um, Joseph had already been preparing and then, um,
I had another person who, in case Joseph got sick
the morning of. We wanted to be good stewards of
all all those who would be coming that morning. So, um,
but God orchestrated all those details. Um, we just happened
(05:05):
to get to be part of the team that gets
to be part of this morning.
S1 (05:08):
The Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast is happening next Tuesday,
May 20th, 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. doors open at 645.
If you hear a tummy rumbling early, you can get
in early and get in the line. But there's a
lot that's planned for that particular morning.
S3 (05:23):
That's right. And you were talking to us about Darryl Strawberry, his, um,
faith and just his legacy. So many people recognize him, um,
just from through the years and his sports history. I'm
still learning about him, but I've definitely heard about him,
so that's really good for me.
S1 (05:41):
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. She do not do the sport thing.
S3 (05:44):
I don't follow sports. But I was like, I know
Darryl Strawberry. Yeah. But you know, tell us a little
bit more about him if you would. And just you've
been watching him, looking at him for years, hoping that
he would be the speaker. What are you looking forward
to about what he may share?
S2 (06:00):
Thank you. A great question. I'm a big baseball fan,
have been my whole life, so got to watch him play.
When I was a young kid and just such a
gifted baseball player at such a young age as well.
I mean, he he had a lot of success early on.
And while I'm excited about him being our speaker is
because as much success as he had in baseball, he
(06:24):
he made lots of mistakes and there were lots of
lots of temptations within that success. And and he's been
very open about and transparent about about about those mistakes
and about his life. Um, sort of leading up to
that success and then post success. And then what he
sees as his life now is how to invest in others,
and how to share his story of redemption and reconciliation
(06:49):
with the world, and that's what I'm excited about. About
that not just because he's a baseball player, but because
he's he's he's a real guy. Um, he's had real life, um,
had has had ups and downs, and he's using that story,
God's story in his life to then bless and invest
in others.
S1 (07:06):
Thank you so much for just sharing that. TW Francescon
is our guest. He chairs the committee for the Chattanooga
Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast. You've been doing this for a while.
I know that that Daryl holds a special place in
your heart, but there's something about the prayer breakfast that
has you involved. Year after year after year. Why is
it such an important event for you? Um, if you
(07:26):
could just share that from a personal standpoint.
S2 (07:30):
Sure. Uh, my dad invited me to go to the
first prayer breakfast. I wish I remember the exact year,
but I was probably 11 or 12 or 13, and.
And since then, I've been, um, had the had the
opportunity to attend the prayer breakfast and getting to see
our community come together, um, and without without divisive politics, without,
(07:51):
you know, regardless of occupation or ethnicity or political persuasion,
just for the our community to come together with two
purposes to pray for our community and its leaders and
then to hear a story. So when I had the
opportunity to be a part of the Prayer Breakfast team
several years ago, I was honored to get to be
part of that and have continued doing that and several
(08:14):
on our team. There's been a multigenerational, um, involvement, uh,
with families. And that's been that's been really a blessing
to me. And my wife and I have had our
kids attending the last few years as well. So it's
a neat event for our community over the last, you know,
since 1978 to come together, um, and pray and come
(08:37):
together and celebrate our community and come together and get
to hear a story, a personal story and testimony.
S3 (08:45):
I love that. I love that you bring your whole family.
Some people may not realize, but children are welcome.
S2 (08:51):
Yes. Yeah. Occasionally we still get the question, hey, is
this a men's prayer breakfast? But it's not. This is
for men and women and students again to come together. So, um,
everyone is welcome. And we want people to, to, to
to to to be welcome and be part of part
of the morning.
S1 (09:08):
Okay. Wonderful. Uh, as we're wrapping up our time with you, T.W.,
you just need to know, is it sold out? Are
there tickets available? Can somebody still get in knowing that
it's happening just right around the corner on Tuesday morning?
S2 (09:18):
Yes. We still have a few tickets available. We are, um,
tickets are selling fast and we do have a capacity
in the convention center. Um, so this year we are, um,
we are hoping not to have to cut off ticket sales,
but we're getting close to that point so people can
go to Chattanooga Prayer Breakfast. Com to purchase tickets online
and single tickets or a table of eight. So again,
(09:41):
we want as many people who want to be there
as possible. But we are getting close to our capacity.
PT Franciscan is a senior director of alumni culture and
Engagement at the McCallie school. He also chairs the committee
for the Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast. He leads that team,
and he likes me best. T.w. Great to have you
with us here this morning.
S2 (00:17):
Thank you so much, Tom and Toby. It's an honor
to be with you all this morning. So grateful for y'all's.
For your partnership. The Chattanooga leadership prayer breakfast.
S1 (00:26):
Yeah. Thank you so much for that. And, T.W., I
can't believe it's next Tuesday already. It is almost here.
But let me take you back in time just a
little bit. Give us a little bit of the history
of the prayer breakfast and maybe some things of note
that we need to know.
S2 (00:40):
Sure. Um, back in 1977, um, God gave the vision
to a group of individuals to start a prayer breakfast
in the Chattanooga area. And then in 1978, February of
1978 was the first prayer breakfast. Uh, Chuck Colson was
our first our first speaker. And it's a time where
(01:02):
men and women and students are able to gather together,
really with two purposes to pray for our community and
its leaders and to hear the personal story, um, of
of of a leader this year happens to be Darryl
Strawberry for the baseball fans. Darryl Strawberry was a major
League Baseball player and World Series champion. So we're really excited.
(01:24):
And over the years we've had people in business, we've
had people in, um, politics. We've had people in athletics
to to speak and share their personal, personal testimony of faith.
S3 (01:36):
Okay. Thank you so much. T.W. mentioned our partnership. We
thank you for being so committed to this through the years.
And I didn't I didn't remember that it was Chuck
Colson who was the first speaker. That is amazing. And
that has set the tone all this time. But how
do you select your speakers?
S2 (01:55):
Great question. Toby. Uh, a lot of prayer. We start
praying really years in advance for who the Lord is
calling to, to serve as our speakers in future years.
We try to to line up the speaker about a
year in advance so we can share at the end
of the prayer breakfast. Next year's date and speaker. And
sometimes God gives us that person, sometimes that not. But
(02:16):
he has chosen the speakers over the years. And and
we intentionally do not ask pastors and ministry leaders. This
is really a lay event where we're wanting people in
the business world, or in education, or in medicine, or
in sports or in politics to be able to to
lead us. And therefore, we've got leaders who are provide
(02:36):
prayers and scripture readings and music and then and then
and then the main speaker. So we actually it was
about ten years ago when I read an article about
Darryl Strawberry, and I thought, how cool would it be
for him to be our speaker one day? And then
God worked it out last year for him to, uh,
to commit to serving as this year's speaker. So we're
(02:57):
really excited about this year.
S1 (02:59):
Yeah, I'm excited as well. I'm a Darryl Strawberry fan.
Not just from his time in baseball, but just the
way that he's overcome life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I can't wait to hear that story, but let me
ask a follow up question as to what Toby said.
As far as how are the speakers chosen? I need
to ask the next question. How are the reserve speakers chosen?
Because there's somebody in reserve just in case something happens. Uh,
(03:23):
and the speaker isn't able to make it? I know
a couple of years ago that actually was the case. So.
So how do you choose that person?
S2 (03:31):
Well, it's very similar. We pray a lot, and our
team prays about who is, again, who he wants to
be a part of. Every aspect of the morning, including
our backup speaker, is probably the hardest position, because the
backup speaker has to be ready to speak, and knowing
that that they may not get called on to do that.
And you're exactly right. In 2022, um, our speaker got
(03:52):
Covid and Joseph Wingfield, uh, stepped in and did a
phenomenal job sharing his story. We had such great responses.
In fact, several said, oh, we ought to have we
ought to have more local speakers. But Joseph did a
great job. So we have a we've had a backup
speaker for many years in case there are travel delays or,
or any conflicts. So therefore we have someone who is
(04:14):
who's ready to to speak that morning.
S1 (04:16):
Okay. Can I I have to do a follow up here.
I feel like like you've got the spotlight on you
right now. We had the privilege of chatting with Joseph
last year in preparation for last year's prayer breakfast. And
he said that there there's actually a backup to the
backup because like, when Joseph showed up, he saw you
on the phone with somebody. He said, nope, you're off
the hook. He's here. So there was somebody else in
(04:38):
your back pocket that's available as well.
S2 (04:42):
Well, that year we did, you know, got noticed, I
think Sunday night, um, before the prayer breakfast that he
had Covid. So, um, Joseph had already been preparing and then, um,
I had another person who, in case Joseph got sick
the morning of. We wanted to be good stewards of
all all those who would be coming that morning. So, um,
but God orchestrated all those details. Um, we just happened
(05:05):
to get to be part of the team that gets
to be part of this morning.
S1 (05:08):
The Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast is happening next Tuesday,
May 20th, 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. doors open at 645.
If you hear a tummy rumbling early, you can get
in early and get in the line. But there's a
lot that's planned for that particular morning.
S3 (05:23):
That's right. And you were talking to us about Darryl Strawberry, his, um,
faith and just his legacy. So many people recognize him, um,
just from through the years and his sports history. I'm
still learning about him, but I've definitely heard about him,
so that's really good for me.
S1 (05:41):
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. She do not do the sport thing.
S3 (05:44):
I don't follow sports. But I was like, I know
Darryl Strawberry. Yeah. But you know, tell us a little
bit more about him if you would. And just you've
been watching him, looking at him for years, hoping that
he would be the speaker. What are you looking forward
to about what he may share?
S2 (06:00):
Thank you. A great question. I'm a big baseball fan,
have been my whole life, so got to watch him play.
When I was a young kid and just such a
gifted baseball player at such a young age as well.
I mean, he he had a lot of success early on.
And while I'm excited about him being our speaker is
because as much success as he had in baseball, he
(06:24):
he made lots of mistakes and there were lots of
lots of temptations within that success. And and he's been
very open about and transparent about about about those mistakes
and about his life. Um, sort of leading up to
that success and then post success. And then what he
sees as his life now is how to invest in others,
and how to share his story of redemption and reconciliation
(06:49):
with the world, and that's what I'm excited about. About
that not just because he's a baseball player, but because
he's he's he's a real guy. Um, he's had real life, um,
had has had ups and downs, and he's using that story,
God's story in his life to then bless and invest
in others.
S1 (07:06):
Thank you so much for just sharing that. TW Francescon
is our guest. He chairs the committee for the Chattanooga
Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast. You've been doing this for a while.
I know that that Daryl holds a special place in
your heart, but there's something about the prayer breakfast that
has you involved. Year after year after year. Why is
it such an important event for you? Um, if you
(07:26):
could just share that from a personal standpoint.
S2 (07:30):
Sure. Uh, my dad invited me to go to the
first prayer breakfast. I wish I remember the exact year,
but I was probably 11 or 12 or 13, and.
And since then, I've been, um, had the had the
opportunity to attend the prayer breakfast and getting to see
our community come together, um, and without without divisive politics, without,
(07:51):
you know, regardless of occupation or ethnicity or political persuasion,
just for the our community to come together with two
purposes to pray for our community and its leaders and
then to hear a story. So when I had the
opportunity to be a part of the Prayer Breakfast team
several years ago, I was honored to get to be
part of that and have continued doing that and several
(08:14):
on our team. There's been a multigenerational, um, involvement, uh,
with families. And that's been that's been really a blessing
to me. And my wife and I have had our
kids attending the last few years as well. So it's
a neat event for our community over the last, you know,
since 1978 to come together, um, and pray and come
(08:37):
together and celebrate our community and come together and get
to hear a story, a personal story and testimony.
S3 (08:45):
I love that. I love that you bring your whole family.
Some people may not realize, but children are welcome.
S2 (08:51):
Yes. Yeah. Occasionally we still get the question, hey, is
this a men's prayer breakfast? But it's not. This is
for men and women and students again to come together. So, um,
everyone is welcome. And we want people to, to, to
to to to be welcome and be part of part
of the morning.
S1 (09:08):
Okay. Wonderful. Uh, as we're wrapping up our time with you, T.W.,
you just need to know, is it sold out? Are
there tickets available? Can somebody still get in knowing that
it's happening just right around the corner on Tuesday morning?
S2 (09:18):
Yes. We still have a few tickets available. We are, um,
tickets are selling fast and we do have a capacity
in the convention center. Um, so this year we are, um,
we are hoping not to have to cut off ticket sales,
but we're getting close to that point so people can
go to Chattanooga Prayer Breakfast. Com to purchase tickets online
and single tickets or a table of eight. So again,
(09:41):
we want as many people who want to be there
as possible. But we are getting close to our capacity.
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