The National Prayer Breakfast and The Family

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When strikes broke out in the 1930's, some wealthy members of the US elite got together... to pray. One of the organizers of prayer groups across the country was Abraham Vereide. In this episode of Truce we tell the story of how Vereide became one of the most influential non-elected men of his time... and how his movement took a dark turn as revealed in Netflix's The Family.

Contributed Voices (not all were used):

• Sharon Campbell - All God's Women Podcast
• Shea and Michelle Watson - The Pantry Podcast
• Annie Quinnell - The Unstoppable Solo Mom Podcast
• Tim and JK Winders - Seek Go Create Podcast
• Holland Webb - The Afterword Podcast
• Markus Watson - Spiritual Life and Leadership Podcast

Discussion Questions:

• When is it an appropriate time for a labor strike?
• How bad do things have to get before a strike can shut down the economy?
• Is there a Christian perspective on labor strikes?
• Is there anything wrong or creepy about Christian businessmen praying to end a strike?
• Do you think the National Prayer Breakfast is an event focused on piety?
• Read Matthew 6 in the Bible. What do you think it means for public prayer? Jesus prayed in public. Is all public prayer wrong, or just some of it? Where is that line?
• Vereide's legacy created "The Family", a shadowy organization that tries to create male Christian leaders. Is this good, bad, creepy, or some combination of the three?
• "The Family" is focused on male leaders. Why do we struggle as Christians to let women lead?

Helpful Links:

• One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse
• Britannica article about The Family
• History of the Prayer Breakfast
• 90% of Everything - book about shipping containers
• Crash Course - Great book about unions and the US auto manufacturers
• Helpful history of the San Fransisco and Seattle strikes and Bloody Thursday
• YouTube video of West Coast during the strikes
• "The Family" - the Netflix "documentary".

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