Best-selling author guest at prayer breakfast

The founder of Chick-fil-A and the editor of the Alabama Baptist newspaper have spoken at the Florence chapter of the National Exchange Club's prayer breakfast.

But a man who went to heaven and back? That's a tough story to top.

Don Piper, author of New York Times best-seller, "90 Minutes in Heaven," speaks to club members and guests Tuesday, Nov. 17.

His book tells of his death from a car wreck, brief visit to heaven and return to his body.

Piper's recovery from the car accident required more than 34 surgeries according to donpiperminsitries.com.

It is that story that Exchange Club member Steve Chenault hopes to hear.

"We think that he has a wonderful message, and it's one of inspiration and hope and that is the type subject that we love to hear about at these prayer breakfasts," Chenault

said.

"His faith and his belief in God got him through a terrible time in his life."

Speakers at the breakfast have chosen from a wide-ranging spectrum of religious interests.

Topics have ranged from their own personal experiences to the philosophical aspects of the religious experience .

The breakfast takes place at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center in Florence from 6:20-8 a.m.

The public is invited to the breakfast. Proceeds are used for child abuse prevention, particularly the Lauderdale County attention homes for children.

Tickets are $12 and are available at the door or from exchange club members.

Call 764-0500 for details.

"This is a service project, not a money-making project, to get the community to offer speakers of different religious backgrounds the opportunity to tell their story," Chenault said.

The exchange club renamed its prayer breakfast "One Nation Under God Prayer Breakfast" in honor of late Florence Mayor Eddie Frost.

The club is the oldest civic club in the city, Chenault said, and its members, men and women, meet

weekly at the Marriott's conference center.