When the Sixteenth Annual International Prayer Breakfast was scheduled for 11 September 2001, who could have anticipated how important prayer would become on that dreadful day? Some headlines have called it “The Day the World Changed.” For a season at least, all our lives have been personally affected, and we are only too aware of the global impact of those acts of terror.

As 225 of us sat peacefully in the Delegates’ Dining Room that morning, the city outside which all of us called “home” was already under siege. While those mighty towers were under attack and thousands were facing death, Dr. Miroslav Volf reminded us that the “will to embrace the other” – even an enemy – is at the heart of reconciliation and peace and hope.

Because the program for that morning was such a source of inspiration to so many, we want you to have a copy of it in its entirety. We believe you will find much that’s worthy of reflection and personal application, to provide guidance in your personal journey.

It could be said that the will to embrace is what the work of the United Nations is all about. Our will to embrace is continually and profoundly tested. May God give us the grace to respond from hearts transformed by His love.