Two-time People’s Choice Awards winner Kirk Cameron delivered an inspiring testimony of faith and resolve during his keynote address at the 2025 Southwest Florida Community Prayer Breakfast.
Held May 1 at Hammond Stadium at Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers, the faithful gathered for a morning of prayer for the local community, state, country and world. Attendees heard messages of faith, hope, spirituality and service from Cameron, local pastors and community leaders to celebrate the National Day of Prayer, which is recognized on the first Thursday of May. Cameron, local pastors and community leaders joined Southwest Floridians in unified prayer, continuing a tradition that began in 1988 when the Community Prayer Breakfast was introduced.
Event attendees prayed together, sung together and exchanged prayer cards before Cameron told his personal story of transforming from a non-believer into a spiritual man. He notes there is an encouraging groundswell of spirituality sweeping the nation and world, and says that starts at the local level with events like the Community Prayer Breakfast.
“There is a fresh sea breeze of hope, victory, optimism and courage that is blowing through our country right now,” Cameron said. “As the ‘family of faith,’ we’ve got some air cover and we can make so much progress as the ground troops in God’s loving army of compassion – the family of faith – to move forward with truth and with goodness and with beauty, and we should all take advantage of that opportunity.”
Cameron, an actor who portrayed “Mike Seaver” in the 1980s sitcom “Growing Pains,” has since invested his time and energy into faith and family-focused films, television shows and live events, including “Left Behind,” “Monumental,” “The Way of the Master” and “Fireproof,” which inspired the best-selling book “The Love Dare.” In 2022, Cameron produced “Lifemark,” a film about the value of life and the beauty of adoption. Currently, Cameron hosts the weekly talk show “Takeaways with Kirk Cameron” and the “American Campfire Revival” podcast.
A highlight of the event was when Cameron presented a detailed explanation of a replica of The National Monument to the Forefathers, a statue that was built to honor passengers on the Mayflower and depicts the virtues of faith, morality, education, law and liberty.
“Year after year, this event brings our community closer in a time of celebration, inspiration and unity,” said Ron Inge, president of Southwest Florida Community Prayer Breakfast, Inc. “On this beautiful morning, our hearts were touched, and we were reminded of the importance of faith, fellowship and community.”
Southwest Florida Community Prayer Breakfast, Inc. was founded to guarantee that the prayer breakfast continues to be celebrated annually, thanks to the generous support of local businesses, organizations, individuals and foundations. Carl Barraco, Ron Inge, John Noland, Gary Trippe, Richard Akin, Ashley Hull and Matt Roepstorff serve as its board members.
The presenting sponsor for 2025 was Daniel R. and Anne M. Harper Foundation. Additional sponsors included 4KIDS SWFL; AIM Engineering; B&I Contractors; Bank of America; Barraco and Associates; Bill and Kim White; Bruce Strayhorn; Charles Idelson; Coastal Waste & Recycling; Cogent Bank; CTN – Christian Television Network; Cypress Cove and Cypress at Home; Daniel R. and Anne M. Harper Foundation; David and Doris Swor; David and Linda Lucas; Donna Sublett; Donner and Company CPA; Edison National Bank; Forrest and Vicki Banks; Gary and Gay Trippe; Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, PA; Jeff and Suzy Seitz; John and Pam Noland; John E. and Aliese Price Foundation; Lee County Electric Cooperative, Inc.; LSI Companies; Maurillo Group at UBS Private Wealth Management; Morris-Depew Associates; Palm Printing; Priority Marketing; Private Client Insurance Services, Inc.; Quinton B. & Beverly H. McNew Foundation; Ron and Sherry Inge; Royal Corinthian Homes; State Insurance USA; Steve and Kathy Shimp; The Community Foundation; and Wes & Maureen Brewer.
About the Southwest Florida Community Prayer Breakfast
The Southwest Florida Community Prayer Breakfast is held annually on the first Thursday of May in observance of the National Day of Prayer, a day when individuals of all faiths join in unified prayer for continued blessings on the nation. Southwest Florida has been honoring the National Day of Prayer since the Community Prayer Breakfast’s inception in 1988. To learn more, visit CommunityPrayerBreakfast.com or call 239-744-7769.
