The purpose of the National Prayer Breakfast is to invite leaders to meet in the spirit of Jesus Christ in order to pray together.

At the heart of the National Prayer Breakfast is a small group of Parliamentarians from different political parties who meet for breakfast each Wednesday morning while Parliament is in session.  The weekly meetings provide opportunities for meaningful friendships to flourish and grow.

In these non-partisan gatherings, members are not only given the chance to know one another better, but also have an opportunity to recognize the presence of God in each others lives.  The exercise of effective political leadership has always demanded that such positive relationships need to be fostered across party lines.

The purpose of the weekly Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast has always been the same.  It is to call men and women to God and then to entrust them with the application of what it means to live out God’s grace as leaders in our society.  The Prayer Breakfast is not a lobby group which seeks to influence policy even when legislation before Parliament involves very controversial issues.  It is not the aim of the weekly Prayer Breakfast Group to influence the thinking of others towards any particular political viewpoint.  There is instead a trust in the workings of God that as we pray for one another, the Holy Spirit will work in our lives to help us grow as women and men who seek justice and humbly walk with God.

The annual National Prayer Breakfast is a Christ centred but not just a Christian event.  It does not seek to convert people to Christianity.  Rather, the aim is simply to meet in the spirit of Jesus and pray together. This means that we seek to love those around us just as Jesus loved those who were around him.  It is recognized that Jesus is at the centre of our event when we share a spirit which is welcoming, compassionate and loving.

Finally, the goal of the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast Group in Ottawa is all about building relationships.  It means building relationships with political opponents, Christians of various denominations and people from different faith groups.  In this way, Jesus teachings and his way of life are witnessed in quiet and life-changing ways.