Roughly 50 denominational leaders and pastors will attend the conference June 17-19, which is expected to attract up to 600 attendees, says Ivens. President Barack Obama and other political leaders are slated to speak at the breakfast. Past speakers have included President George W. Bush.
In addition to the breakfast, the event will include multiple workshops, networking opportunities, and visits to legislators on Capital Hill to push for comprehensive immigration reform.
Esperanza and the Covenant have had a longstanding and close relationship. Ivens was the original representative for Esperanza USA in California and says the organization supplied nearly $500,000 in grants to Covenant Hispanic Covenant churches in Southern California between 2003-2006.
Reverend Luis Cortés, Jr. organized the first National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in 2002 as a one-day event for members of the Hispanic clergy to gather in prayer on behalf of the nation and the Hispanic community.
The conference also included informal discussions with the clergy’s elected officials to discuss issues important to Hispanic people and to fulfill Esperanza’s civic mandate to advocate on behalf of the marginalized and underserved in local communities. The gathering eventually was expanded to a three-day convocation.
