High Point University is, for the 53rd time in a row, inviting everyone in the community to join the school in kicking off the holiday season with its Annual Christmas Prayer Breakfast. This beloved tradition at the university, this year, will take place on Friday, Dec. 6, at 8 a.m. in the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center on the school’s campus.

The breakfast, which is free and open to the public, offers attendees a morning of connection, inspiration, and celebration of holiday joy.

One highlight includes a keynote address by Rev. Susan Sparks – a North Carolina native known as “America’s only female standup comedian with a pulpit.”

Prayer breakfast guests will also be treated to holiday music performed by the High Point University Chapel Choir while attendees enjoy their complimentary breakfast.

Rev. Sparks will use her journey from trial attorney to comedian and minister as a humorous way to convey a message of healing. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University, Sparks spent a decade practicing law before going on a worldwide adventure that included volunteering with Mother Teresa’s mission in Calcutta and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Today, she serves as a senior minister at Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City, where she broke a barrier as the church’s first female pastor. Her work has been featured in The Oprah Magazine and The New York Times, as well as on ABC, CNN, and CBS.

HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein, world-renowned motivational author and speaker, said that this year’s event should be very special.

“We’re honored to have Rev. Sparks share her inspiring story and message of joy this year,” Qubein said. “This breakfast is a time for reflection and gratitude, and we look forward to welcoming our community to campus.”

Parking for the breakfast will be available at 1315 N. University Parkway, with a shuttle service provided.

To attend, guests are encouraged to register by visiting High Point University’s website or by calling 336-841-4636.

The High Point University Christmas Prayer Breakfast is supported by several local organizations including Fence Builders, Inc., Johnson’s Modern Electric, River Landing at Sandy Ridge, Smith & Jennings, Inc., and the Haggai Prayer Breakfast Fund.

Last year’s breakfast drew about 1,500 attendees who sang carols and enjoyed an uplifting morning together.

Event promoters say this year’s gathering promises to be just as memorable as past events – combining a cherished tradition with a fresh and joyful perspective.

If you want more information about the prayer breakfast, you should contact Alex Abrams, HPU’s director of Media Relations, at 336-841-9588 or send an email to aabrams1@highpoint.edu.

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