Community builder, retired JAG officer will be Sumter Mayor's Prayer Breakfast speaker

"While he is not well known in our community, he is probably the most decorated speaker we have ever had."

Those were the words of Sumter Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Steering Committee Chairman Gifford Shaw in describing Atlanta-based public benefit corporation CEO Rodney Bullard, who is this year's prayer breakfast keynote speaker. The long-standing service will be held on Thursday, May 1, at Alice Drive Baptist Church.

The breakfast will begin at 6:45 a.m. at Alice Drive Baptist, 1305 Loring Mill Road, with the program starting at 7:30 a.m.

The annual local event is always held on the same day as the National Day of Prayer.

This year's theme for the National Day of Prayer is "Pour out to the God of hope and be filled" and Romans 15:13.

The event includes multiple prayers offered for different groups in the local community, including law enforcement, first responders, families, schools, the military and business/industry, among others, Shaw said.

A frequent speaker with an extensive background in service and leadership, Bullard founded The Same House in 2023. The corporation is dedicated to enhancing economic mobility by bridging social division and addressing social and economic challenges in the world today.

Bullard previously served as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer in the U.S. Air Force, a legislative counsel at the Pentagon and an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. He was also selected as a White House fellow, working directly for the NASA administrator. Additionally, Bullard served as vice president of community affairs at Chick-fil-A Inc., and executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation.

An alumnus of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Duke Law School, University of Georgia's Terry School of Business and Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program,

Bullard is also the author of a best-selling book, Heroes Wanted: Why the world needs you to live your heart out.

Shaw said Bullard is a great fit for the mayor's prayer breakfast.

"While he is not well-known in our community, he is probably the most decorated speaker we have ever had and he is well-known across the country," Shaw said.

"He's been in the White House, the Pentagon, he was the director of the Chick-Fil-A Foundation. So he's been involved in philanthropy and involved in social needs of our communities - much like our community - with The Same House. We need to have that same message, that same understanding in Sumter. It was a great opportunity to get a great speaker."

A Sumter City councilman, Shaw learned of Bullard from Dexter Davis, who previously served as a member of the founding board of directors of Liberty STEAM Charter School. Now, Davis is a board member with South Carolina Public Charter School District, based in Columbia. Davis' wife, LaShea, was appointed to replace him on the Liberty STEAM board.

Shaw said he has been working for three years to get Bullard for the prayer breakfast, given his busy schedule, and credited the Davises for their efforts in helping the process.

"As a friend to Dexter and LaShea, he is a friend to many," Shaw added.

Given Bullard's background in the Air Force, he hopes many from Shaw Air Force Base will come to hear him speak.

Sumter Mayor David Merchant and his wife, Laurie, will open the program and provide a welcome, he added.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door on the morning of the event.

Tickets are available at The Olive Tree Christian Bookstore and Doolallies, The Sumter YMCA and Swan Lake Visitors Center. Several area churches also have tickets for sale, and people can check with various churches' offices, he said.

"As always, we hope that we are represented by the whole of our community at the prayer breakfast, and we hope it will continue to draw us all together as one in Christ," Shaw said.